CNN founder Ted Turner leaves a legacy of fighting for environmental causes
By: NPR
Ted Turner, the influential media mogul and philanthropist, passed away on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at age 87. While Turner is best known for launching CNN, the first 24-hour cable news network, his legacy extends far beyond the world of broadcasting. Turner was a pioneering philanthropist who believed that CEOs have a responsibility to serve society, not just generate wealth.
Turner made headlines in the late 1990s when he donated $1 billion to create the United Nations Foundation, which was then the largest individual charitable gift in history. He also co-founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction and dedicated himself to environmental causes, preserving over 2 million acres of land for conservation.
Leesa Carter-Jones, CEO of the Captain Planet Foundation, an organization Turner co-founded, credits him with inspiring other billionaires to give away their fortunes and for nurturing a generation of environmentally conscious youth.
Turner’s philanthropic drive was influenced by his father, who encouraged him to set ambitious goals. In a 2010 interview, Turner said he aspired to eliminate nuclear weapons, solve climate change, and end poverty—goals he admitted were daunting but pursued with determination. In a letter to the Giving Pledge, Turner called his more than $1.3 billion in charitable giving his proudest achievement and the best investment he ever made.