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{{Infobox person
| name = Ted Turner
| image = Ted_Turner.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Turner speaking at an event in 2015
| birth_name = Robert Edward Turner III
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|11|19}}
| birth_place = [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], United States
| nationality = {{USA}}
| education = [[Brown University]] (attended, honorary B.A. 1989)
| alma_mater = [[The McCallie School]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Media proprietor|Entrepreneur|Philanthropist|Television producer|Sailor}}
| years_active = 1963-present
| title = Founder and Chairman
| organization = [[Turner Broadcasting System]]
| known_for = {{ubl|Founding [[CNN]]|Creating [[TBS (TV channel)|TBS]], [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]], [[Turner Classic Movies|TCM]], [[Cartoon Network]]|America's Cup champion (1977)|$1 billion UN Foundation donation}}
| net_worth = US$2.2 billion (2024 estimate)
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Judy Nye|1960|1964|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Jane Shirley Smith|1965|1988|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Jane Fonda]]|1991|2001|end=divorced}}
}}
| children = 5 (Laura, Teddy, Rhett, Beau, Jennie)
| parents = Robert Edward Turner II (father)<br>Florence Rooney Turner (mother)
| awards = {{ubl|[[Time Person of the Year]] (1991)|America's Cup Champion (1977)|[[Television Hall of Fame]] (1991)|[[Peabody Award]] (1997)|[[Emmy Awards|Emmy]] Lifetime Achievement (2014, 2015)}}
| signature = 
| website = {{URL|tedturner.com}}
}}

'''Robert Edward Turner III''' (born November 19, 1938), known professionally as '''Ted Turner''', is an American entrepreneur, media proprietor, television producer, philanthropist, and championship sailor who fundamentally transformed the global media landscape and pioneered the 24-hour cable news format.<ref name="forbes">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/-ed-urner/ |title=Ted Turner |publisher=Forbes |access-date=December 2025}}</ref> As the founder of the [[Cable News Network]] (CNN), Turner created the first television network to provide continuous news coverage around the clock, revolutionizing how the world receives and consumes news. His media empire, built from a single billboard company inherited from his father, grew to encompass some of the most influential networks in television history, including [[TBS (TV channel)|TBS]], [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]], [[Turner Classic Movies|Turner Classic Movies (TCM)]], and [[Cartoon Network]].

Turner's influence extends far beyond broadcasting. He owned the [[Atlanta Braves]] baseball team from 1976 to 2007, during which time the team won the 1995 [[World Series]], and the [[Atlanta Hawks]] basketball franchise from 1977 to 2004. In the world of competitive sailing, Turner skippered the yacht ''[[Courageous (yacht)|Courageous]]'' to victory in the 1977 [[America's Cup]], becoming one of the most celebrated amateur sailors in American history. His business acumen, combined with his willingness to take extraordinary risks, earned him the nickname "Captain Outrageous" and established him as one of the most important media figures of the late twentieth century.

Equally notable is Turner's philanthropic legacy. In 1997, he stunned the world by announcing a $1 billion donation to support [[United Nations]] causes, leading to the creation of the [[United Nations Foundation]]. This gift, made when Turner's net worth was approximately $3.<ref name="wealth">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/ |title=Real Time Billionaires |publisher=Forbes |access-date=December 2025}}</ref>2 billion, represented one of the largest charitable donations in American history at that time. He has also dedicated substantial resources to environmental conservation, nuclear nonproliferation through the [[Nuclear Threat Initiative]], and wildlife preservation, maintaining the largest private herd of American bison in the world.

Turner's colorful personality and outspoken nature have generated both admiration and controversy throughout his career. His willingness to make bold statements on religion, politics, population control, and global affairs earned him the additional moniker "The Mouth of the South." Despite personal struggles, including three marriages, his father's suicide, and a 2018 diagnosis of [[Lewy body dementia]], Turner remains a towering figure in American business history whose innovations continue to shape the media industry.

== Early life and family background ==

=== Family origins and ancestry ===

Robert Edward Turner III was born on November 19, 1938, in [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], the first child of Robert Edward Turner II and Florence Rooney Turner. The Turner family had deep roots in the American South, with ancestors who had settled in Mississippi and Georgia during the nineteenth century. His father, known as Ed Turner, was a self-made businessman who had built a successful billboard advertising company from modest beginnings during the [[Great Depression]]. Ed Turner was a complicated figure - brilliant, demanding, and prone to severe mood swings that would profoundly affect his son's upbringing and psychological development.

Florence Rooney Turner, Ted's mother, came from a working-class Irish Catholic family in Cincinnati. She was a devoted mother who provided the emotional warmth that her husband often withheld. The marriage between Ed and Florence was turbulent from the start, marked by Ed's domineering personality and struggle with mental health issues that remained undiagnosed throughout his life. Despite these challenges, Florence worked to create a stable home environment for Ted and his younger sister, Mary Jean, who was born in 1940.

The Turner family's early years were shaped by the economic uncertainties of the post-Depression era and the outbreak of [[World War II]]. Ed Turner's billboard business survived these challenges, and by the mid-1940s, he had established himself as a successful regional advertising executive. The family's rising fortunes allowed them to move from Cincinnati to Savannah, Georgia, when Ted was nine years old, a relocation that would prove formative in shaping the young Turner's identity as a Southerner.

=== Childhood in Savannah ===

The move to Savannah in 1947 marked a significant transition in Ted Turner's life. The coastal Georgia city, with its historic squares, grand antebellum architecture, and deeply rooted Southern traditions, became the backdrop against which Turner would develop his distinctive personality and values. Ed Turner had purchased a Savannah-based billboard company and saw tremendous potential for growth in the post-war South, where automobile culture was rapidly expanding and outdoor advertising was becoming increasingly valuable.

In Savannah, the Turner family established themselves among the city's business elite. Ed Turner's billboard company, Turner Advertising, flourished as he expanded operations throughout the Southeast. By the early 1950s, Turner Advertising held what company histories would later describe as "virtual monopolies in Savannah, Macon, Columbus, and Charleston," making it the largest outdoor advertising company in the region. This business success brought the family considerable wealth and social standing, but it came at a cost to family harmony.

Ed Turner's parenting style was characterized by extreme strictness, high expectations, and emotional severity. He believed that material comfort bred weakness and made his children tougher by subjecting them to rigorous discipline. Ted later recounted that his father would whip him with a wire coat hanger for minor infractions, a form of punishment that was not uncommon in the era but left lasting psychological scars. Ed also sent Ted to boarding school at an unusually young age, a decision that reflected both his desire to harden his son and his own difficulty managing family relationships.

=== The tragedy of Mary Jean Turner ===

The Turner family suffered a devastating tragedy when Ted's younger sister, Mary Jean, was diagnosed with [[systemic lupus erythematosus]], an autoimmune disease, at age twelve. The disease caused progressive deterioration over several years, and Mary Jean died in 1960 at the age of twenty. Ted was twenty-one years old at the time and had already experienced significant distance from his family due to his years at boarding school.

Mary Jean's illness and death had a profound impact on both Ted and his father. Ed Turner, who had always struggled with emotional expression, became increasingly withdrawn and depressive. For Ted, the loss of his sister crystallized a growing awareness of mortality and the fragility of human life that would influence his later philanthropic interests in health and population issues. The tragedy also created a bond of shared grief between father and son that coexisted uneasily with their difficult relationship.

Years later, Turner would speak publicly about how his sister's death affected his views on religion and human suffering. He had been raised [[Episcopalian]] and at one point considered becoming a missionary, but Mary Jean's painful death caused him to question the existence of a benevolent God. This crisis of faith would evolve into the secular worldview that characterized Turner's adult life and occasionally generated controversy when he made disparaging remarks about organized religion.

=== Education at McCallie School ===

Ed Turner enrolled his son at [[The McCallie School]], a prestigious private boys' preparatory school in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]], when Ted was just eleven years old. The decision to send such a young child to boarding school reflected Ed Turner's belief that distant, demanding institutions would build character better than the comforts of home. McCallie, founded in 1905 by two Presbyterian ministers, emphasized academic rigor, military-style discipline, religious instruction, and character development.

At McCallie, Turner initially struggled with the adjustment to institutional life away from his family. He was young, relatively small for his age, and intensely homesick during his first years at the school. However, he gradually adapted to the demanding environment and began to display the competitive drive and leadership qualities that would characterize his adult career. He excelled in debating and public speaking, demonstrating the verbal agility and persuasive skills that would later serve him in business negotiations and media appearances.

Turner also developed his passion for sailing during his time at McCallie, though he had been introduced to the sport earlier during summer vacations. The school's emphasis on outdoor activities and physical fitness complemented his growing interest in competitive athletics. He became a skilled sailor at the Savannah Yacht Club during school breaks, competing in junior regattas and developing the technical expertise and tactical acumen that would eventually make him an America's Cup champion.

Academically, Turner was bright but inconsistent, often performing below his potential due to restlessness and a tendency to challenge authority. His teachers recognized his intelligence and charisma but sometimes struggled with his strong-willed nature and resistance to rules he considered arbitrary. Despite these challenges, Turner graduated from McCallie in 1956 with a solid academic record and admission to Brown University, one of the nation's most prestigious institutions of higher learning.

=== Brown University years ===

Ted Turner entered [[Brown University]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], in the fall of 1956, beginning what would prove to be a tumultuous college experience that shaped his independent streak and unconventional approach to business and life. Brown's Ivy League atmosphere represented a significant departure from the military-influenced environment of McCallie, offering greater intellectual freedom but also new social challenges for the young Southerner.

Turner initially declared a major in [[classics]], planning to study ancient Greek and Latin literature. This choice horrified his father, who wrote a famous letter expressing his dismay at what he considered an impractical academic pursuit. Ed Turner's letter, which Ted later published in full, stated that his father was "appalled, even horrified" by the decision and that he "almost puked" upon learning of his son's chosen field of study. The letter represented a crystallization of the fundamental tension between Ted's intellectual interests and his father's practical, business-oriented worldview.

Under pressure from his father, Turner changed his major to [[economics]], a field that Ed deemed more appropriate for someone who would eventually enter the family business. However, Ted's time at Brown was not defined primarily by his academic pursuits. He became deeply involved in extracurricular activities, serving as vice-president of the Brown Debating Union, where he honed the rhetorical skills that would make him a formidable negotiator and public speaker. He also captained the sailing team, competing in intercollegiate regattas throughout the Northeast and establishing himself as one of the top collegiate sailors in the country.

Turner joined the [[Kappa Sigma]] fraternity, where he developed the social skills and networking abilities that would prove valuable throughout his career. His fraternity brothers remembered him as charismatic, competitive, and sometimes reckless - qualities that remained constant throughout his life. However, his time at Brown was cut short before he could graduate due to a disciplinary matter that would become part of his colorful personal legend.

=== Expulsion from Brown ===

In 1959, during his junior year, Ted Turner was expelled from Brown University for having a female student in his dormitory room, a violation of the strict social regulations that governed Ivy League campuses in the pre-1960s era. The expulsion was a significant blow to Turner's academic aspirations and caused further tension with his demanding father, though Ed Turner ultimately expressed some understanding given the nature of the infraction.

Turner later described his expulsion with characteristic humor and defiance, suggesting that he was simply ahead of his time in challenging outdated social conventions. The incident became part of his personal mythology as an iconoclast who refused to accept rules he considered arbitrary or unjust. While the immediate consequences were significant - he never completed his undergraduate degree - the expulsion also freed him from the academic world and pushed him toward the business career that would define his life.

Brown University eventually reconciled with its famous non-graduate. In November 1989, Turner returned to campus to deliver the keynote address at the National Association of College Broadcasters' second annual conference. On that occasion, Brown awarded Turner an honorary Bachelor of Arts degree, symbolically completing the education that had been interrupted three decades earlier. The honor reflected both Turner's subsequent achievements and the university's recognition that strict disciplinary enforcement had cost them a potentially distinguished alumnus.

Following his expulsion from Brown, Turner fulfilled his military service obligation by joining the [[United States Coast Guard Reserve]]. This decision, made as tensions in Vietnam were beginning to escalate, allowed him to satisfy his service requirement while avoiding deployment to an increasingly dangerous conflict zone. Turner later joked that he "liked boats" and managed to get "deployed to some pretty sweet places - Charleston and Fort Lauderdale." In 2013, the [[United States Navy Memorial]] honored Turner with its Lone Sailor Award, recognizing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard veterans who have distinguished themselves in civilian careers.

== Business career ==

=== Taking over Turner Advertising ===

Ted Turner's entry into the business world came abruptly and tragically with the suicide of his father, Robert Edward Turner II, on March 9, 1963. Ed Turner, who had struggled with depression and anxiety throughout his life, shot himself at his plantation in [[South Carolina]] at the age of fifty-three. The suicide came just as Ed was completing a major business deal that would have significantly expanded Turner Advertising, and some have speculated that the stress of this transaction contributed to his mental state.

At twenty-four years old, Ted Turner suddenly found himself responsible for the family business. Ed Turner's estate plan had actually called for selling Turner Advertising, a decision made during one of his depressive episodes when he doubted his son's ability to manage the company. However, the sale had not yet been completed at the time of Ed's death, and Ted moved quickly to reverse his father's decision. Through aggressive negotiation and legal maneuvering, he managed to retain control of the company that his father had built over three decades.

Taking the helm of Turner Advertising, the young Turner demonstrated the same aggressive, risk-taking approach that would characterize his entire business career. He immediately began expanding operations, acquiring additional billboard locations throughout the Southeast and negotiating exclusive contracts with businesses along major highways. The outdoor advertising industry was highly profitable due to its low operating costs and steady demand from businesses seeking to reach the growing automobile-driving public.

Turner's business acumen quickly exceeded his father's expectations. Within a few years of taking control, he had transformed Turner Advertising into one of the most profitable outdoor advertising companies in the region. He discovered, as his biographer Porter Bibb later noted, that his father had "sheltered a substantial amount of taxable income over the years by personally lending it back to the company." This revelation provided Turner with resources he could reinvest in expansion. He also realized that "the billboard business could be a gold mine, a tax-depreciable revenue stream that threw off enormous amounts of cash with almost no capital investment."

During this period, Turner also engaged with conservative politics, joining the [[Young Republicans]] and identifying with the pro-business, anti-communist ideology that his father had championed. He later described feeling "at ease among these budding conservatives" and "merely following in [his father]'s far-right footsteps." However, Turner's political views would evolve significantly over the decades, eventually positioning him as a supporter of environmental causes, population control, and international cooperation - positions that would have been anathema to his father's generation of conservatives.

=== Expansion into radio and television ===

In the late 1960s, Ted Turner began looking beyond outdoor advertising for new business opportunities. The broadcast industry, particularly radio and television, offered tremendous growth potential as American media consumption patterns were evolving rapidly. Turner saw an opportunity to use  cash flow from his billboard business to enter the electronic media sector, beginning what would become one of the most remarkable business expansion stories in American history.

Turner started by acquiring several radio stations across the South, including stations in Chattanooga, Charleston, and Jacksonville. These acquisitions provided him with experience in the broadcasting industry and generated additional revenue that could be reinvested in larger ventures. However, Turner quickly recognized that television represented a far more significant opportunity than radio, even though the costs and risks of television station ownership were substantially greater.

In 1970, Turner made the pivotal decision that would launch his media empire. He sold his radio stations and used the proceeds to purchase Channel 17 WJRJ-TV, a struggling independent [[UHF]] television station in [[Atlanta]]. The station was losing money and had minimal viewership, characteristics that made it affordable for an ambitious young businessman with limited capital. Turner changed the station's call letters to WTCG (for Turner Communications Group, though he erroneously claimed it stood for "Watch This Channel Grow") and set about transforming it into a profitable enterprise.

The challenges facing an independent UHF station in the 1970s were formidable. The three major networks - [[ABC]], [[NBC]], and [[CBS]] - dominated television programming and advertising revenue, while independent stations struggled to attract viewers with limited budgets for original content. Turner's solution was to focus on low-cost programming that could be acquired cheaply: old movies, classic television series, theatrical cartoons, and sports. WTCG ran programming that larger stations had discarded, including shows like ''[[Gilligan's Island]]'', ''[[I Love Lucy]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'', ''[[Hazel (TV series)|Hazel]]'', and ''[[Looney Tunes|Bugs Bunny]]'' cartoons.

=== The superstation concept ===

Turner's most revolutionary innovation in the television industry was the creation of the "superstation" concept, which transformed WTCG from a local Atlanta station into a nationally distributed cable network. The idea emerged from Turner's recognition that new satellite technology and the growing cable television industry could allow a single station to reach viewers far beyond its traditional broadcast range.

In 1976, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) approved regulations that allowed television stations to transmit their signals via satellite to cable systems around the country. Turner immediately recognized the transformative potential of this regulatory change. On December 17, 1976, WTCG became the first television station to use satellite technology to distribute its programming nationally, reaching cable subscribers across the United States.

The satellite uplink transformed Turner's modest Atlanta station into a national media property. Cable operators were eager to add programming to their systems to attract subscribers, and WTCG's mix of movies, sports, and classic television provided content that cable systems could offer at minimal cost. As cable penetration expanded throughout the late 1970s, WTCG's viewership grew exponentially. By the end of the decade, the station reached approximately 2 million subscribers, and Turner's net worth had climbed to approximately $100 million.

In 1978, Turner strengthened the branding of his superstation by acquiring the call letters WTBS from a student-operated radio station at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] for $50,000. The station, renamed WTBS, became synonymous with the superstation concept, and Turner Communications Group was renamed Turner Broadcasting System (TBS). The success of WTBS demonstrated that satellite distribution could create national media properties from local television stations, a model that would be replicated by competitors but never with the same first-mover advantage that Turner enjoyed.

=== The Atlanta Braves and sports programming ===

Recognizing that sports programming was essential to attracting and retaining viewers, Turner made a bold move in 1976 by purchasing the [[Atlanta Braves]] [[Major League Baseball]] team for approximately $10 million. The acquisition served multiple purposes: it provided WTCG/WTBS with valuable live programming, transformed a local sports team into a national brand, and satisfied Turner's personal passion for sports competition.

The following year, in 1977, Turner added the [[Atlanta Hawks]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] to his portfolio, further expanding the sports programming available to his superstation. These acquisitions demonstrated Turner's understanding that content ownership was essential to building a sustainable media business. Unlike licensing agreements, which could be terminated or become prohibitively expensive, owning sports teams gave Turner permanent access to live programming that viewers found compelling.

Turner's tenure as Braves owner was marked by his characteristic blend of innovation, controversy, and hands-on involvement. In his first year of ownership, Turner was suspended from baseball for one year by Commissioner [[Bowie Kuhn]] for tampering with free agent outfielder [[Gary Matthews]]. Turner had made improper comments to the San Francisco Giants' owner during negotiations, violating baseball's rules governing player acquisitions. The suspension was eventually reduced, but it established Turner's reputation as an unconventional owner who would push boundaries.

Perhaps the most memorable incident of Turner's early ownership came on May 11, 1977, when the Braves were suffering through a 16-game losing streak. Turner sent manager [[Dave Bristol]] on a forced "scouting trip" and took over as interim manager himself, becoming the first owner to manage a major league team since [[Connie Mack]]. Turner managed one game - a loss to the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] - before National League president [[Chub Feeney]] ordered him to stop, citing rules prohibiting managers from owning stock in their teams. Commissioner Kuhn upheld the ruling, noting Turner's "lack of familiarity with game operations."

Despite these early controversies, Turner's ownership of the Braves ultimately proved highly successful. The team's games, broadcast nationally on WTBS, made the Braves "America's Team" and created a fan base that extended far beyond Atlanta. The strategy paid its greatest dividend in 1995, when the Braves won the [[1995 World Series|World Series]], defeating the [[Cleveland Indians]] in six games. The championship represented the culmination of Turner's vision of using sports ownership to build a national media brand.

=== Founding CNN ===

Ted Turner's most significant contribution to media history came with the founding of the [[Cable News Network]] (CNN), the first 24-hour television news channel. The concept emerged from Turner's recognition that satellite technology could support specialized programming that would not be viable on traditional broadcast television but could find audiences through cable distribution.

In 1978, Turner contacted media executive [[Reese Schonfeld]] about the possibility of creating a continuous news network. Schonfeld had previously approached Turner with a similar proposition in 1977 but had been rebuffed. This time, Turner was receptive. Schonfeld outlined a plan that could be executed with a staff of approximately 300 people if they used an all-electronic newsroom and satellites for all transmissions. The initial investment would be between $15 million and $20 million, with ongoing operating costs of several million dollars per month.

To fund the venture, Turner sold his Charlotte television station, WRET, in 1979. He established CNN's headquarters in Atlanta, choosing the city partly because of lower operating costs compared to New York or Washington and partly because Atlanta was not unionized, allowing for more flexible staffing arrangements. Schonfeld was appointed as the first president and chief executive officer of the network.

CNN launched on June 1, 1980, at 6:00 PM Eastern Time, with a news broadcast anchored by husband-and-wife team [[David Walker (CNN anchor)|David Walker]] and [[Lois Hart]]. Turner himself appeared on camera to introduce the network, declaring his ambition that CNN would continue broadcasting "until the world ends." He famously stated: "We won't be signing off until the world ends. We'll be on, and we will cover the end of the world, live, and that will be our last event." Turner even commissioned a video recording of a military band playing the hymn "Nearer, My God, to Thee" to be broadcast as CNN's final programming should the world actually end - a tape that was discovered in CNN's database in 2015 and subsequently leaked.

The early years of CNN were marked by skepticism from the established broadcast networks and financial challenges as the network worked to build its audience and advertising base. Critics initially dismissed CNN as the "Chicken Noodle Network," questioning whether there was sufficient audience demand for continuous news programming. However, Turner's vision proved prescient. Major news events, including the assassination attempt on President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1981 and the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster]] in 1986, demonstrated the value of having a network that could provide continuous coverage of breaking stories.

CNN's defining moment came during the [[Gulf War]] in 1991, when the network provided unprecedented live coverage of the American-led military operation against [[Iraq]]. CNN correspondents [[Peter Arnett]], [[Bernard Shaw (journalist)|Bernard Shaw]], and [[John Holliman]] remained in [[Baghdad]] as American bombs fell on the city, providing real-time reporting that the traditional networks could not match. The coverage transformed CNN from a cable upstart into an essential news source and vindicated Turner's belief that continuous news programming could find a massive global audience.

=== Building the Turner empire ===

Following CNN's success, Turner aggressively expanded his media holdings throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1981, Turner Broadcasting System acquired Brut Productions from Faberge Inc., adding production capabilities to the company's portfolio. However, the most consequential expansion came in 1986 when Turner attempted to acquire [[CBS]], one of the three major broadcast networks.

The CBS bid ultimately failed due to resistance from CBS management and concerns from regulators about media concentration. However, the failed acquisition led to an even more significant deal. Later in 1986, Turner purchased [[MGM/UA Entertainment Company]] from [[Kirk Kerkorian]] for approximately $1.5 billion. The acquisition saddled Turner Broadcasting with enormous debt, forcing Turner to sell back MGM/UA to Kerkorian while retaining MGM's extensive film and television library.

The MGM library acquisition proved to be one of the most valuable deals in entertainment history. Turner retained ownership of approximately 2,200 films made before 1986, including classics from Hollywood's golden age such as ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'', ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'', ''[[Casablanca (film)|Casablanca]]'', and ''[[Citizen Kane]]''. This library became the foundation for multiple new cable networks and generated substantial revenue through syndication and home video distribution.

Turner's decision to colorize some of the black-and-white films in the library generated significant controversy within the film industry. Directors, actors, and film critics protested what they considered vandalism of cinematic art. Roger Ebert wrote that broadcasting a colorized ''Casablanca'' "will be one of the saddest days in the history of the movies." The controversy ultimately contributed to the establishment of the [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]], which preserves films of cultural significance in their original formats.

In 1988, Turner launched [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]] (Turner Network Television) with a broadcast of ''Gone with the Wind''. The new network initially focused on classic films and television series from Turner's library, gradually expanding to include original programming and sports coverage. Turner also purchased Jim Crockett Promotions, a professional wrestling company, and renamed it [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW). Under Turner's ownership, WCW became a major competitor to [[Vince McMahon]]'s [[World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF), launching the famous "Monday Night War" between the two promotions throughout the 1990s.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) launched in 1994, providing commercial-free presentations of classic films from the Turner library and other sources. Unlike TNT, which eventually moved toward original programming, TCM maintained its focus on film preservation and appreciation, becoming a beloved destination for cinema enthusiasts. The network's success demonstrated Turner's ability to identify niche audiences that could be served profitably through cable distribution.

=== Cartoon Network and animation ===

The MGM library acquisition also included significant animation assets, including early [[Looney Tunes]] and [[Merrie Melodies]] cartoons that had been distributed by Warner Bros. Before 1950, as well as [[Popeye]] cartoons from [[Fleischer Studios]] and [[Famous Studios]]. These holdings, combined with Turner's 1991 acquisition of [[Hanna-Barbera Productions]], provided the foundation for [[Cartoon Network]], which launched in 1992.

Hanna-Barbera, the studio behind iconic animated series including ''[[The Flintstones]]'', ''[[The Jetsons]]'', ''[[Scooby-Doo]]'', and ''[[Yogi Bear]]'', had been owned by Taft Broadcasting (later Great American Broadcasting), headquartered in Turner's original hometown of Cincinnati. Turner outbid several competitors, including [[MCA Inc.]] and [[Hallmark Cards]], to acquire the studio and its extensive library of animated content.

Cartoon Network represented Turner's recognition that children's programming represented a significant and underserved market segment. The channel initially relied heavily on library content from Hanna-Barbera and the Turner-owned classic cartoons, but gradually developed original programming that would define American animation in the 1990s and 2000s. After the Time Warner merger in 1996, Cartoon Network gained access to the full Warner Bros. Animation library, including modern Looney Tunes productions.

Turner also created ''[[Captain Planet and the Planeteers]]'', an animated series featuring an environmental superhero, which premiered in 1990. The show reflected Turner's growing interest in environmental issues and his desire to use media to promote ecological awareness among young viewers. While critics questioned whether the series was overly didactic, ''Captain Planet'' introduced millions of children to concepts of environmental stewardship and became a cultural touchstone of early 1990s animation.

=== The Goodwill Games ===

In 1986, Turner founded the [[Goodwill Games]], an international multi-sport event intended to ease tensions between the [[United States]] and the [[Soviet Union]] during the [[Cold War]]. The inaugural games were held in [[Moscow]] in 1986, followed by events in Seattle (1990), Saint Petersburg (1994), New York (1998), Brisbane (2001), and a final winter games event in Lake Placid in 2000.

The Goodwill Games emerged from Turner's frustration with the politicization of the [[Olympic Games]], particularly after the United States boycotted the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in Moscow and the Soviet Union boycotted the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] in Los Angeles. Turner believed that sports competition could serve as a bridge between ideological adversaries and that his broadcasting capabilities could create a commercially viable alternative to the Olympics.

While the Goodwill Games never achieved the viewership or prestige of the Olympics, they demonstrated Turner's willingness to pursue ambitious projects that combined commercial interests with idealistic goals. The games provided valuable Olympic-style programming for Turner's networks and contributed to the improvement of US-Soviet relations during the final years of the Cold War. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the games continued but struggled to find a clear purpose, and the final events were held in 2001.

=== Time Warner merger ===

On October 10, 1996, Turner Broadcasting System merged with [[Time Warner]] in a deal that valued Turner's company at approximately $7.5 billion. The merger created the world's largest media company and made Turner the largest individual shareholder in Time Warner with approximately 10% of the company's stock. Turner became vice chairman of Time Warner and head of its cable networks division, overseeing CNN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, and the other properties he had built.

The merger represented both the culmination of Turner's empire-building and the beginning of his gradual marginalization from the company he had created. While Turner initially wielded significant influence as the largest shareholder and a senior executive, his relationship with Time Warner CEO [[Gerald Levin]] became increasingly strained. Levin gradually reduced Turner's operational responsibilities, and by the late 1990s, Turner's role had become largely ceremonial.

The situation deteriorated further after Time Warner's fateful merger with [[America Online]] (AOL) in January 2001, creating AOL Time Warner in what was then the largest corporate merger in American history. Turner initially supported the deal, believing that the combination of traditional media and internet capabilities would create unprecedented value. However, the burst of the dot-com bubble devastated AOL's business, and the merged company's stock price collapsed, wiping out billions of dollars in shareholder value.

Turner's personal losses from the AOL Time Warner debacle were staggering. His stake in the company, which had been worth approximately $10 billion at its peak, lost roughly $8 billion in value as the stock price declined. In a memorable exchange at a fall 2001 board meeting, Turner openly criticized CEO Gerald Levin's management, contributing to Levin's announced resignation effective in early 2002. [[Richard Parsons]] replaced Levin as CEO and attempted to repair Turner's relationship with the company by inviting him to provide strategic advice, though Turner never regained the operational role he sought.

Turner resigned as AOL Time Warner vice chairman in 2003 and from the Time Warner board of directors in 2006, ending his formal association with the company he had built over four decades. The experience left Turner bitter about the AOL merger and critical of corporate governance practices that he believed had enriched executives at the expense of shareholders. When asked about buying back his former assets, Turner ruefully replied that he "can't afford them now."

=== Rivalry with Rupert Murdoch ===

Turner's career was marked by an intense personal and professional rivalry with [[Rupert Murdoch]], the Australian-born media mogul who built [[News Corporation]] into a global empire. The competition between Turner and Murdoch represented a clash of personalities, business philosophies, and political ideologies that played out across multiple decades and continents.

The rivalry originated, at least symbolically, during the 1983 [[Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race]], when a Murdoch-sponsored yacht collided with Turner's yacht ''Condor'', causing it to run aground just 6.2 miles from the finish line. At the post-race dinner, an intoxicated Turner verbally attacked Murdoch and challenged him to a televised fistfight in Las Vegas. The challenge was never accepted, but it established the combative tone that would characterize their relationship.

The rivalry intensified when Murdoch launched [[Fox News Channel]] in 1996 as a direct competitor to CNN. Murdoch positioned Fox News as a conservative alternative to what he characterized as CNN's liberal bias, attracting viewers who felt that traditional news media did not represent their perspectives. Turner's Time Warner initially refused to carry Fox News on its New York City cable systems, and Turner declared that they would "squash Rupert Murdoch like a bug."

Turner challenged Murdoch to another fistfight in 2003 and accused him of being a "warmonger" for his support of President [[George W. Bush]]'s invasion of Iraq. However, in a 2019 interview with ''Variety'', Turner revealed that he and Murdoch had made amends and were on friendly terms, suggesting that the passage of time had softened their antagonism.

== Sailing career ==

=== Early competitive sailing ===

Ted Turner's passion for competitive sailing developed during his childhood in Savannah, Georgia, where he learned to sail at the Savannah Yacht Club. By his teenage years, he was competing in junior regattas throughout the Southeast, developing the technical skills and tactical instincts that would make him one of America's most successful amateur sailors.

At Brown University, Turner captained the sailing team and established himself as a formidable collegiate competitor. His combination of natural ability, intense competitiveness, and willingness to take calculated risks made him a dangerous opponent in any regatta. After leaving Brown, Turner continued to compete at the highest levels of yacht racing while simultaneously building his business empire.

Turner's sailing accomplishments include being named US Sailing's Yachtsman of the Year four times - a record that stands unmatched. His victories in major ocean races include the [[Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race]] and numerous other blue-water events. However, his most famous sailing achievement came in the 1977 America's Cup, when he skippered the 12-metre yacht ''Courageous'' to a decisive victory.

=== America's Cup victory ===

Turner's first attempt at the America's Cup came in 1974, when he competed in the defender trials aboard the 12-metre yacht ''Mariner'' (US-25). He lost to [[Ted Hood]] and his yacht ''Courageous'' (US-26), with Hood going on to successfully defend the Cup. The loss was disappointing but provided Turner with invaluable experience in America's Cup racing.

For the 1977 defense, Turner joined a syndicate formed by Hood and Lee Loomis for the New York Yacht Club. The syndicate owned ''Courageous'' but planned to design and construct a new 12-metre, ''Independence'' (US-28), with Hood at the helm. Turner was assigned to skipper the three-year-old ''Courageous'' in the defender trials, essentially serving as a trial horse for the new design.

However, during the summer trials, Turner and his crew demonstrated that ''Courageous'' was actually faster than ''Independence''. The crew, which included tactician [[Gary Jobson]], embraced their underdog status, playing the ''[[Rocky (1976 film)|Rocky]]'' soundtrack every morning as they were transported to their boat. Despite lingering doubts about Turner within the New York Yacht Club hierarchy - some questioned whether the "mercurial southerner" should represent the prestigious club - ''Courageous'' earned the defender nomination with an outstanding record of ten wins and just one loss in the trials.

The America's Cup match itself was anticlimactic. Turner and ''Courageous'' swept the Australian challenger ''Australia'', skippered by Noel Robins, in four straight races. The greatest winning margin was 2 minutes and 23 seconds. The victory cemented Turner's reputation as one of the greatest American sailors of his generation and earned him the cover of ''Sports Illustrated'' on July 4, 1977.

=== 1979 Fastnet Race ===

Turner's most dramatic sailing achievement came during the 1979 [[Fastnet Race]], a prestigious ocean race from [[Cowes]] on the [[Isle of Wight]] to [[Fastnet Rock]] off the southwest coast of [[Ireland]] and back to [[Plymouth]]. The race, which took place in August 1979, was struck by a severe storm that killed 15 competitors and became one of the deadliest disasters in yacht racing history.

Turner skippered the 61-foot [[Sparkman & Stephens]]-designed sloop ''Tenacious'' through the storm, demonstrating exceptional seamanship and leadership under extreme conditions. While many yachts retired or were abandoned, Turner pushed on, ultimately crossing the finish line first and winning the race on corrected time. The victory in such dire circumstances enhanced Turner's reputation for courage and competitiveness, reinforcing the "Captain Outrageous" nickname that had followed him throughout his career.

Turner was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 1993 and the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2011, recognizing his contributions to the sport both as a competitor and as a promoter of sailing through his media platforms.

== Philanthropy and environmental activism ==

=== United Nations Foundation ===

On September 18, 1997, Ted Turner stunned the philanthropic world by announcing a donation of $1 billion to support [[United Nations]] causes. The announcement came at a dinner held in New York by the United Nations Association-USA to honor Turner. Without prior notice, he declared his intention to create what would become the [[United Nations Foundation]], a public charity dedicated to supporting UN programs and broadening American engagement with the international organization.

The donation, to be disbursed over ten years at approximately $100 million per year, represented approximately one-third of Turner's net worth at the time, which was estimated at $3.2 billion. The gift was unprecedented in its scale and its focus on international causes at a time when American philanthropy was predominantly directed toward domestic issues. Turner later wrote that he gave the decision "two days thought - and changed the world of philanthropy."

Turner's initial plan for the donation was characteristically unconventional. He originally wanted to use the money to pay off the United States' debt to the United Nations and then sue the American government for the money it owed him. After revising this approach, he worked with UN officials and advisors to create a foundation structure that could effectively channel resources to UN programs.

The United Nations Foundation, launched in 1998, has focused its grantmaking on four primary areas: women and population, the environment, children's health, and peace, security, and human rights. The foundation has partnered with UN agencies, funds, and programs to address global challenges including childhood vaccination, malaria prevention, climate change, and sustainable development.

The fulfillment of Turner's $1 billion pledge was complicated by the collapse of his AOL Time Warner stock, which reduced his net worth by billions of dollars. However, Turner reaffirmed his commitment, extending the timeline for disbursement from five years to ten years while maintaining the total pledge amount. By 2006, the foundation had delivered the full $1 billion to UN causes, and Turner announced plans to use  remaining $400 million of his gift to raise an additional $1 billion from other donors.

=== Nuclear Threat Initiative ===

In 2001, Turner co-founded the [[Nuclear Threat Initiative]] (NTI) with former US Senator [[Sam Nunn]] of Georgia. NTI is a non-partisan organization dedicated to reducing global reliance on nuclear weapons and preventing the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons of mass destruction. Turner serves as co-chairman of the organization's board of directors.

NTI has worked on initiatives including securing loose nuclear materials in the former Soviet Union, advocating for arms reduction treaties, and promoting international cooperation on nuclear security. The organization has been particularly focused on preventing nuclear terrorism by securing vulnerable nuclear materials that could be acquired by non-state actors.

Turner's involvement with NTI reflects his long-standing concern about nuclear weapons and global security. He has spoken frequently about the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the importance of international cooperation to address existential threats to humanity. These concerns align with his support for the United Nations and his broader vision of global governance to address challenges that transcend national borders.

=== Turner Foundation and environmental causes ===

In 1990, Turner created the [[Turner Foundation]], a private grant-making organization focused on environmental and population issues. The foundation has provided grants to organizations working on conservation, environmental protection, and sustainable development, with particular emphasis on protecting water resources, preventing habitat destruction, and addressing climate change.

Turner's environmental philanthropy is closely connected to his extensive land holdings. Through Turner Enterprises, he owns approximately 2 million acres across the United States and Argentina, making him one of the largest private landowners in North America. Much of this land is managed for conservation purposes, with a focus on restoring native ecosystems and supporting wildlife populations.

Turner's land management philosophy emphasizes economic sustainability alongside ecological sensitivity. His ranches support the largest private herd of [[American bison]] in the world, estimated at approximately 45,000 to 51,000 animals across 15 ranches. The bison program reflects Turner's interest in restoring native species to the American landscape while creating economically viable alternatives to conventional cattle ranching.

=== Captain Planet Foundation ===

The [[Captain Planet Foundation]], established in 1991, grew out of Turner's animated television series ''Captain Planet and the Planeteers''. The foundation supports environmental education programs and youth engagement with conservation issues, providing grants to schools and community organizations that promote hands-on environmental learning.

The foundation's programs have reached millions of young people with messages about environmental stewardship, recycling, pollution prevention, and sustainable living. While the Captain Planet television series ended in 1996, the foundation has continued its work, expanding its focus to address contemporary environmental challenges including climate change and renewable energy.

=== The Giving Pledge ===

In 2010, Turner joined [[The Giving Pledge]], an initiative founded by [[Warren Buffett]] and [[Bill Gates]] that encourages the world's wealthiest individuals to commit the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. By signing the pledge, Turner formalized his commitment to devoting his fortune to charitable purposes during his lifetime or upon his death.

Turner's participation in The Giving Pledge represented a continuation of the philanthropic philosophy he had articulated throughout his career. He has consistently argued that wealthy individuals have an obligation to use their resources for the benefit of society and has criticized those who accumulate vast fortunes without corresponding charitable commitments.

== Personal life ==

=== Marriages and family ===

Ted Turner has been married three times. His first marriage, to Judy Nye in 1960, ended in divorce in 1964. The marriage produced two children: Laura Lee Turner (born 1961) and Robert Edward Turner IV, known as "Teddy" (born 1963). Laura has become an environmental activist and chairs the Captain Planet Foundation, while Teddy pursued careers in education and media before running unsuccessfully for Congress in South Carolina in 2013 as a Republican.

Turner's second marriage, to Jane Shirley Smith in 1965, lasted until 1988 and produced three additional children: Rhett Lee Turner, Reed Beauregard "Beau" Turner, and Sara Jean "Jennie" Turner. All five of Turner's children have been involved in various aspects of his business and philanthropic enterprises, with several serving on the boards of Turner-related foundations and organizations.

Turner's third and most publicly scrutinized marriage was to actress and activist [[Jane Fonda]], whom he married on December 21, 1991. The couple's relationship began when Turner learned of Fonda's divorce from activist [[Tom Hayden]] in 1990 and immediately called her for a date. After initially declining, Fonda eventually accepted, and the two began a relationship that led to marriage.

The Turner-Fonda marriage combined two of America's most prominent and controversial public figures. Both were known for outspoken political views, though Turner's business conservatism sometimes clashed with Fonda's more radical activism. They shared interests in environmental causes and philanthropy, and Fonda became an important supporter of Turner's various charitable initiatives.

The marriage deteriorated over time due to the demands of Turner's business empire and the couple's difficulty maintaining a connection despite their mutual affection. Fonda later revealed that Turner had a brief affair with another woman just one month into their marriage, though she chose to forgive him and continue the relationship. The couple separated in January 2000 and finalized their divorce on May 22, 2001.

Turner has spoken candidly about the end of his marriage to Fonda. In interviews, he has described her as "the love of his life" and expressed regret about their divorce. "When you love somebody and you really love them, you never stop loving them, no matter how hard you try," he told interviewers. For her part, Fonda has called Turner her "favorite ex-husband" and has spoken positively about their ten years together. The two remain friends and speak approximately once a month, with Turner attending Fonda's 80th birthday celebration.

=== Children and grandchildren ===

Turner's five children have pursued diverse careers while remaining connected to their father's business and philanthropic interests:

'''Laura Turner Seydel''' (born 1961) is an environmental activist and eco-living expert. She chairs the Captain Planet Foundation and Zero Waste Zones and was a founder of Mothers and Others for Clean Air and the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. She and her husband, Rutherford Seydel, moved into the first LEED-certified gold residence in the United States in 2007, demonstrating their commitment to sustainable living.

'''Robert Edward Turner IV ("Teddy")''' (born 1963) graduated from The Citadel, South Carolina's military college, and has worked in various capacities within the Turner business empire, including positions at Turner Home Entertainment and Turner Broadcasting System. He currently teaches high school economics in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2013, he ran for Congress as a Republican, finishing fourth in the primary with 7.9% of the vote. He is married to Blair Turner and has three children.

'''Rhett Lee Turner''' is president of Red Sky Productions, an international film production company. He has pursued a career as a filmmaker and photographer, using the media background he gained growing up in his father's empire.

'''Reed Beauregard "Beau" Turner''' serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Turner Endangered Species Fund and Director of Natural Resources and Biodiversity for Turner Enterprises, Inc. He resides in Florida and is deeply involved in his father's conservation initiatives.

'''Sara Jean "Jennie" Turner Garlington''' served as an associate producer at CNN's Environment Unit from 1994 to 2001 and is the executive producer and host of ''EcoSense for Living''. She has served on the board of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for twelve years and is a trustee of the Turner Foundation. She is married to Julius Peek and has six children.

=== Lewy body dementia diagnosis ===

In September 2018, Turner revealed publicly that he had been diagnosed with [[Lewy body dementia]], a progressive brain disease that affects thinking, movement, behavior, and mood. The announcement came during an interview with [[Ted Koppel]] that aired on ''CBS Sunday Morning''.

In the interview, Turner described his primary symptoms as exhaustion and forgetfulness, noting with characteristic humor that he couldn't even remember the name of the disease he was discussing. He downplayed the severity of his condition, describing it as "a mild case of what people have as Alzheimer's" that is "similar to that, but not nearly as bad."

However, medical experts note that Lewy body dementia is a serious condition that is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease. The disease is caused by abnormal protein deposits (Lewy bodies) in the brain and can cause symptoms including visual hallucinations, fluctuating cognition, movement difficulties similar to [[Parkinson's disease]], and sleep disorders. The disease is progressive and ultimately fatal, though progression rates vary significantly among patients.

Turner's daughter Laura Turner Seydel has said that her father was "very brave" to share his diagnosis publicly. "Ted is known as 'Captain Courageous' and he's battling through," she said in 2022. According to spokespeople, Turner continues to remain "resilient and engaged in his professional and personal endeavors" despite the health challenges presented by the disease.

In January 2025, Turner, then 86 years old, was hospitalized for pneumonia. His representatives reported that he was "doing well in rehab" following the hospitalization.

=== Residences and land holdings ===

Turner's land holdings are among the most extensive of any private individual in North America. Through Turner Enterprises, Inc., he owns approximately 2 million acres across the United States and Argentina, making him one of the largest individual landowners in North America. According to the ''Flatwater Free Press'', Turner is the largest owner of Nebraska farmland.

Turner's properties include 16 ranches in the western United States and three in Argentina, spanning Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. His largest single property is Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico, which at 920 square miles (approximately 590,000 acres) is the largest privately owned contiguous tract of land in the United States.

The ranches are primarily used for bison ranching, supporting Turner's goal of restoring the American bison population. With approximately 45,000 to 51,000 animals, Turner maintains the largest private bison herd in the world. The company's mission statement emphasizes managing "Turner lands in an economically sustainable and ecologically sensitive manner while promoting the conservation of native species."

Turner also owns Ted's Montana Grill, a restaurant chain that features bison meat as its signature offering. The chain, which operates locations across the United States, reflects Turner's interest in promoting bison as a sustainable alternative to beef and in marketing products from his ranching operations.

In January 2016, the [[Osage Nation]] purchased Turner's 43,000-acre Bluestem Ranch in [[Osage County, Oklahoma]], which Turner had acquired in 2001 primarily for bison ranching. The sale represented a partial reduction in Turner's land portfolio, though he retains ownership of his other major properties.

=== Mental health and family history ===

Turner has been open about his struggles with mental health issues, which he has connected to his difficult childhood and his family's history of depression. His father's suicide in 1963 was a formative trauma that shaped Turner's understanding of psychological vulnerability and the importance of seeking help.

In his 1993 biography ''It Ain't As Easy as It Looks'' by Porter Bibb, Turner discussed his use of [[lithium]], a medication commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder. The revelation provided context for Turner's well-known mood swings and manic energy, which had earned him nicknames like "Captain Outrageous" and "The Mouth of the South." Turner's willingness to discuss his mental health publicly helped reduce stigma around psychiatric treatment and encouraged others to seek help for similar conditions.

=== Personal beliefs ===

Turner was raised [[Episcopalian]] and at one point considered becoming a missionary. However, his sister Mary Jean's painful death from lupus caused him to question religious faith, and he became increasingly secular throughout his adult life. He has made controversial statements about religion, including calling observers of [[Ash Wednesday]] "Jesus freaks" (for which he later apologized) and criticizing [[Pope John Paul II]].

Turner's worldview is characterized by concerns about overpopulation, environmental degradation, nuclear proliferation, and international cooperation. He has advocated for population control measures, including expressing support for China's [[one-child policy]]. He has argued that Americans should have no more than two children and has made controversial predictions about the consequences of unchecked population growth and climate change, including a 2008 statement that humans would become "cannibals" if global warming is not addressed.

== Controversies and criticism ==

=== Colorization controversy ===

Turner's decision to colorize black-and-white films from the MGM library in the late 1980s generated intense controversy within the film industry. Directors, actors, and critics argued that colorization violated the artistic integrity of classic films and constituted a form of cultural vandalism.

Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] was particularly outspoken, writing that broadcasting a colorized version of ''Casablanca'' "will be one of the saddest days in the history of the movies." Ebert added that the practice "demonstrates that there is no movie that Turner will spare, no classic however great that is safe from the vulgarity of his computerized graffiti gangs."

Directors including [[Woody Allen]], [[Martin Scorsese]], and [[Steven Spielberg]] testified before Congress in opposition to colorization. The controversy contributed to the establishment of the [[National Film Registry]] by the Library of Congress, which preserves films of cultural significance in their original formats.

Turner defended colorization as a way to attract new audiences to classic films and noted that the original black-and-white versions remained available. However, he eventually scaled back colorization efforts in response to the criticism, and the practice largely ended by the early 1990s.

=== Political and religious statements ===

Turner's outspoken nature has generated numerous controversies throughout his career. His willingness to express strong opinions on sensitive topics, combined with his tendency to make off-the-cuff remarks, has resulted in statements that have offended various groups.

In 1999, Turner made a joke about Polish mine detectors when asked about [[Pope John Paul II]], drawing a harsh response from Polish deputy foreign minister [[Radek Sikorski]] and prompting Turner to apologize. In 2002, Turner accused Israel of terrorism, stating: "The Palestinians are fighting with human suicide bombers, that's all they have. The Israelis... They've got one of the most powerful military machines in the world. The Palestinians have nothing. So who are the terrorists? I would make a case that both sides are involved in terrorism." He later apologized for this statement as well.

Turner has also made controversial comments about the 9/11 hijackers, though he later apologized and defended himself by saying: "Look, I'm a very good thinker, but I sometimes grab the wrong word... I mean, I don't type my speeches, then sit up there and read them off the teleprompter, you know. I wing it."

His comments about population control have been particularly contentious. In 2010, Turner stated that China's one-child policy should be implemented globally, a suggestion that drew criticism from human rights advocates and others who viewed such policies as coercive.

=== Baseball controversies ===

Turner's ownership of the Atlanta Braves was marked by several controversies that reflected his unconventional approach to baseball management. His suspension by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn in 1977 for tampering with free agent Gary Matthews demonstrated his willingness to push boundaries in player acquisition.

His brief tenure as interim manager during the team's 16-game losing streak in May 1977 - which ended after a single game when National League president Chub Feeney ordered him to stop - highlighted the tension between Turner's hands-on impulses and baseball's traditional separation between ownership and on-field management.

While these incidents generated criticism at the time, Turner's ownership of the Braves is generally regarded positively in retrospect, particularly given the team's success in the 1990s and the 1995 World Series championship.

== Awards and honors ==

Turner has received numerous awards and honors recognizing his contributions to media, philanthropy, sports, and sailing:

'''Media and journalism awards:'''
* [[Emmy Award]] - Lifetime Achievement, Sports (2014)
* Emmy Award - Lifetime Achievement, News & Documentary (2015)
* [[Peabody Award]] (1997)
* [[Paul White Award]], Radio Television Digital News Association (1989)
* Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism (1990)
* [[Edward R. Murrow Award]] for Lifetime Achievement in Communication (2000)

'''Business and leadership recognition:'''
* [[Time Person of the Year]] (1991)
* Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement (1984)
* Edison Achievement Award (1999)
* [[Forbes]] 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy (2016)

'''Sports honors:'''
* 1995 [[World Series]] champion (as owner of the Atlanta Braves)
* [[Turner Field]] naming honor (1996-2016)
* US Sailing Yachtsman of the Year (four times - record)
* [[America's Cup]] Hall of Fame inductee (1993)
* National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee (2011)
* Lone Sailor Award, United States Navy Memorial (2013)

'''Entertainment industry honors:'''
* [[Television Hall of Fame]] inductee (1991)
* Star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] (2004)

'''Civic and humanitarian awards:'''
* [[Audubon Medal]], National Audubon Society (1991)
* Albert Schweitzer Gold Medal for Humanitarianism (2001)
* Georgia Trustee (2010)

== Legacy ==

Ted Turner's impact on media, business, and philanthropy has been profound and enduring. His creation of CNN fundamentally changed how news is gathered, distributed, and consumed around the world. The 24-hour news cycle, which Turner pioneered, has become the dominant model for television journalism, spawning competitors including [[Fox News Channel]], [[MSNBC]], and numerous international news networks.

Turner's development of the superstation concept demonstrated the potential of satellite distribution to transform regional media properties into national brands. This innovation paved the way for the explosion of cable television programming that characterized the 1980s and 1990s, creating opportunities for specialized channels that could not have existed in the limited spectrum of broadcast television.

''Slate'' magazine has described Turner as "the Alexander the Great of broadcasting," recognizing his role in building an empire through a combination of strategic vision, risk-taking, and relentless competitive drive. His ability to identify undervalued assets - whether struggling television stations, classic film libraries, or professional sports teams - and transform them into valuable properties demonstrated business acumen that few could match.

Turner's philanthropic legacy is equally significant. His $1 billion gift to the United Nations Foundation set a new standard for large-scale international philanthropy and demonstrated that American donors could have meaningful impact on global challenges. His environmental conservation efforts, including his extensive land holdings and bison restoration program, have contributed to preserving endangered ecosystems and species.

However, Turner's legacy is not without complications. The AOL Time Warner debacle, while not primarily his fault, resulted in the loss of the media empire he had spent decades building. His outspoken comments on religion, politics, and population have alienated some who might otherwise admire his achievements. And the competitive pressures in cable news have led CNN to evolve in ways that Turner has occasionally criticized.

As Turner has aged and dealt with the challenges of Lewy body dementia, control of his various enterprises has passed to others. His children remain involved in his philanthropic foundations, ensuring continuity of his charitable mission. The United Nations Foundation, Nuclear Threat Initiative, and Turner Foundation continue to pursue the causes he championed throughout his career.

Turner Field, the former home of the Atlanta Braves, bore his name from 1996 until 2016, when the team moved to a new stadium. The ballpark has since been converted for use by [[Georgia State University]], maintaining a physical reminder of Turner's connection to Atlanta sports.

== See also ==
* [[CNN]]
* [[Turner Broadcasting System]]
* [[Time Warner]]
* [[United Nations Foundation]]
* [[Nuclear Threat Initiative]]
* [[America's Cup]]
* [[Atlanta Braves]]
* [[Jane Fonda]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.tedturner.com/ Ted Turner official website]
* [https://unfoundation.org/ United Nations Foundation]
* [https://www.nti.org/ Nuclear Threat Initiative]
* [https://www.captainplanetfoundation.org/ Captain Planet Foundation]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, Ted}}
[[Category:Chief executive officers]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American media executives]]
[[Category:American television executives]]
[[Category:American philanthropists]]
[[Category:American billionaires]]
[[Category:American sailors]]
[[Category:America's Cup sailors]]
[[Category:CNN people]]
[[Category:Turner Broadcasting System people]]
[[Category:Atlanta Braves owners]]
[[Category:Atlanta Hawks owners]]
[[Category:Time Warner people]]
[[Category:Brown University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Cincinnati]]
[[Category:People from Savannah, Georgia]]
[[Category:The Giving Pledge signatories]]
[[Category:United States Coast Guard reservists]]
[[Category:People with Lewy body dementia]]