Media pioneer and CNN founder Ted Turner passed away on May 6, 2026, at 87-years-old.
Throughout his long life, Turner forged many strong friendships and left behind a long-lasting legacy. Although he was best known for launching the 24-hour news network CNN, he also had a heart for philanthropy.
In the wake of his passing, many are coming forward and sharing fond memories of Ted Turner and what truly made him so successful.
Ted Turner Felt Passionate About Protecting The Vulnerable
“Remembering Ted Turner,” the late billionaire’s friend and fellow entrepreneur Richard Branson shared on Instagram. “Very sad to hear the news that Ted Turner has passed away. But what a life he lived, which should be celebrated. I always hugely admired Ted, for transformative businesses like CNN, but also for his generosity and vision in setting up the UN Foundation and lots of other work tackling climate change and ocean conservation.”
Branson recalled how Ted Turner had a fondness for animals and sincerely wanted to protect ecosystems. According to Branson, the 87-year-old “was one of the world’s largest bison herders, and reintroduced species from red-cockaded woodpeckers to wolves.”
“Ted’s talent for combining business with philanthropy and being incredibly effective at both was incredibly impressive. But his zest for life, good humour and love of the natural world are examples to us all. Sending best wishes to all of his loved ones,” Branson concluded the sweet tribute.
However, Turner’s philanthropy didn’t stop there. In 1997, he created the United Nations Foundation and pledged $1 billion to get it off the ground.
As per the UNF’s website, “The organization supports the goals and objectives of the United Nations to promote a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. UNF has identified four core priorities: women and population; children’s health; the environment; and peace and security.”
The Entrepreneur Wanted to Live Simply Despite His Billions
According to Forbes, Ted Turner was worth $2.8 billion at the time of his passing. While he took care to protect his assets through smart business moves, he never became too busy to care for others. In fact, he was worth a whopping $8 billion in the 1990s.
In an interview with Stanford Graduate School of Business, Turner emphasized how important it was to make meaningful lifestyle changes.
The planet is collapsing all around us. Ocean fisheries are collapsing from overfishing. Wind, water, and erosion are washing the topsoil away. We’ve got to take better care of the planet,” he told Stanford in 2010. He noted that he drove a Prius.
“That’s my main car and I’m a billionaire still. And I don’t have a gigantic house, so I don’t feel guilty about living there,” Turner continued.
The media mogul also encouraged Stanford students to be the change their generation needs. He truly knew the importance of leaving behind a better world for others.
“What will we do if we have 2 or 3 billion more people?” Turner asked them. “We’ve got to take better care of the planet because without a healthy environment, the population’s not going to make it. We’ve got to start with you.”
Ted Turner grew his company through resilience and hard work. But throughout his life, he never lost sight of what truly mattered.
“If you’re working to help others or make the world better you’ll be a lot happier than if all you’re doing is trying to make things better for yourself…Because the real greatest joy and satisfaction of all, I think, is helping others,” the late entrepreneur once said.
