CNN founder Ted Turner dies at 87, leaving behind media empire that changed television forever

WASHINGTON, DC: Ted Turner, the trailblazing entrepreneur who revolutionized television news and founded CNN, has died at 87, according to Turner Enterprises.

He died peacefully on Wednesday, May 6, with family by his side. The exact circumstances surrounding his death are not clear as of yet.

Widely recognized as the founder of CNN in 1980, Turner reshaped global media by pioneering round-the-clock news coverage, transforming a risky vision into a worldwide powerhouse that redefined how audiences consume breaking news.

Ted Turner's role as a media giant

Long before CNN became synonymous with live breaking coverage, Turner was already rewriting the rules of television.

After taking over his father’s billboard business in his twenties, he expanded into radio before purchasing a struggling Atlanta TV station in 1970.

That station eventually became TBS, cable television’s first national “superstation,” helping him reach audiences far beyond Georgia.

But Turner’s most radical move came on June 1, 1980, when he launched CNN alongside media executive Reese Schonfeld.

Critics mocked the idea of round-the-clock television news, but Turner believed viewers wanted access to events as they happened, not just during scheduled evening broadcasts.

Over the following years, Turner expanded his empire with channels including TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies.

He also owned the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks, blending sports, entertainment, and news into a uniquely personal business empire.

A larger-than-life legacy beyond television

Nicknamed 'The Mouth of the South' for his blunt style, Turner became almost as famous for his personality as his business instincts.

Outside broadcasting, he won the America's Cup, became one of America’s largest private landowners, helped restore bison populations, and founded the United Nations Foundation with a $1 billion pledge.

In 2018, Turner publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia.

He had largely stepped back from public life in recent years. Turner is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

CNN Chairman Mark Thompson called him “the presiding spirit of CNN,” saying his influence on journalism and media would endure for generations.

President Trump mourns Ted Turner's passing

President Donald Trump paid tribute to Ted Turner following his death, describing him as a towering figure in broadcast history and a personal friend.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump praised Turner for building CNN into a global force, while also reflecting on his disappointment after selling the network.

He claimed subsequent leadership shifted CNN away from Turner’s original vision, calling it “woke.”

Despite that, Trump emphasized Turner’s legacy, recalling his willingness to stand up for causes and expressing hope that future ownership could restore the network’s past credibility and influence.