Turner founded the network in 1980 and expanded with more channels, including CNN Headline News, CNN International, and Cartoon Network, in the years that followed.
The media giant also founded TBS and TNT, which still have international audiences today.
Turner suffered from Lewy body dementia
In 2018, Turner revealed in an interview with CBS that he was battling Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder that affects memory and other cognitive functions, and which impacts over 1 million Americans. In January of last year, Turner was hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia.
Outside of his contributions to the media world, the philanthropist also founded the Turner Foundation, dedicated to environmental conservation and described by Turner Enterprises as being focused on “safeguarding habitats, bettering communities, sustainable living, and environmental protection.”
Building on his commitment to conservation, Turner owned about 2 million acres of land, making him one of the largest landowners in North America. Throughout ranches across the U.S., Turner practiced sustainable water and timber management, as well as fishing, hunting, and the reintroduction of native species.
In 1998, the media mogul also founded the United Nations Foundation, an independent charity that works alongside the U.N. on global projects. The year prior, he had pledged $1 billion to the U.N. to assist its programs.
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