The American 24-hour news channel CNN announced on Wednesday the death of its founder, Ted Turner, at the age of 87. In 2018, the latter revealed that he suffered from Lewy body dementia.
Published on: 05/06/2026 - 4:30 p.m. Modified on: 05/06/2026 - 5:17 p.m.
The American continuous news channel CNN announced on Wednesday May 6 the death of its founder Ted Turner, at the age of 87.
In 2018, the media mogul revealed that he suffered from Lewy body dementia, a neurodegenerative disease causing symptoms similar to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
A flamboyant and provocative character, once married to actress Jane Fonda, he helped to shake up the media landscape of his time by creating CNN in 1980, the first 24-hour news channel.
US President Donald Trump paid tribute to a “great name in the history of television”.
Philanthropic and environmental commitments
Born in Cincinnati (north), Ted Turner entered the media by initially taking over the family advertising business left by his father.
After acquiring several radio stations, the purchase in 1970 of a struggling channel in Atlanta marked its entry into television.
Beyond business and sport, his other great passion, he was also known for his philanthropic and environmental commitments.
In 1998, Ted Turner donated a billion dollars to the United Nations to create the United Nations Foundation, which is particularly involved in climate, sustainable development, technology and health.
He also created a Fund in 1997 to protect endangered species such as gopher tortoises, monarch butterflies and certain frogs, in collaboration with private landowners.
In 2015, he launched Ted Turner Reserves, an ecotourism initiative allowing people to visit his properties in New Mexico and learn about conservation projects.
With AFP
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