CNN founder Ted Turner has died at the age of 87, the American network announced on Wednesday. President Donald Trump mourned on the Truth Social Network, "one of the greatest figures in history," adding, "He was one of the greats in the history of television and a friend of mine. He was there whenever I needed him, always ready to fight a battle for a just cause." In addition to business and sports, Turner is known for his contributions to philanthropy and environmental activism.
Published on: 05/06/2026 - 20:44
The American network CNN announced on Wednesday the death of its founder, Ted Turner, at the age of 87, who revolutionized the field of television news.
The media mogul founded CNN in 1980, to be the leading station in broadcasting news around the clock, breaking the scales of traditional radio and television broadcasting. It quickly spread across the world and established its fame with its coverage of the Gulf War in 1990-1991.
“Ted Turner, one of the greatest figures in history, has just passed away,” President Donald Trump wrote on the Truth Social Network, adding, “He was one of the greats in the history of television and a friend of mine. He was there whenever I needed him, always ready to do battle for a just cause.”
Turner revealed in 2018 that he had “Lewy body dementia,” a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and causes symptoms similar to those of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Turner was born in Cincinnati, northern United States, and entered the media field by taking over the management of a family advertising company that he inherited from his father. He acquired a number of radio stations, before moving into television in 1970 by purchasing a network in Atlanta that was facing financial difficulties.
In addition to business and sports, he was known for his involvement in the field of charitable work and environmental activism. In 1998, Turner donated $1 billion to the United Nations to create the United Nations Foundation, which is specifically concerned with climate, sustainable growth, technology and health.
In 1997, he established a fund to protect endangered species such as gopher tortoises, monarch butterflies, and some types of frogs, in cooperation with private property owners.
In 2015, he launched the “Ted Turner Reserves” project, an ecotourism initiative that offers visits to his properties in New Mexico and discovering environmental conservation projects.
France 24/AFP
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