Ted Turner is a household name for most Atlantans. As the founder of CNN, restaurateur, philanthropist, former owner of the ATL Braves, and the namesake behind Ted Turner Boulevard, Ted Turner is an ATL icon. We are saddened to hear of his passing, today, Wednesday, May 6th, 2026.
Born in Cincinnati in 1938, Turner became known as “The Mouth of the South,” by creating CNN, the first-of-its-kind, 24-hour news network.
The Atlanta Braves released a statement honoring Ted Turner.
The Braves said:
Our good friend and former owner, Ted Turner, was one of a kind – a brilliant businessman, consummate showman and passionate fan of his beloved Braves. Ted’s visionary leadership and innovative approach to broadcast television transformed the Braves into “America’s Team.” Under his stewardship, the ballclub experienced one of the greatest runs of sustained excellence in Major League Baseball history and brought a World Series championship to Atlanta in 1995.
Ted was also a legendary philanthropist whose compassion and generosity extended across the globe.
We will miss you, Ted. You helped make us who we are today, and the Atlanta Braves are forever grateful for the impact you made on our organization and in our community.
Ted Turner was known for many accomplishments in his life, including, according to CNN,
…an internationally known yachtsman; a philanthropist who founded the United Nations Foundation; an activist who sought the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons; and a conservationist who became one of the foremost landowners in the United States
Turner also played an important part of the reintroduction of bison to the American west. A highly influential man, Turner received TIME’s Man of the Year award in 1991, for “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history.”
While Turner’s cause of death is not immediately available to the public, CBS news reports,
In 2018, he revealed he was fighting Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder.
Rest in peace, Ted Turner. As we know more details about funeral arrangements or memorial services, we will update.
