What happened to Ted Turner?

Ted Turner, the CNN founder and cable TV pioneer, died Wednesday at age 87, peacefully surrounded by family.

Death and Cause

Ted Turner died peacefully on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at age 87, surrounded by family according to a statement from Turner Enterprises. While a specific cause of death was not immediately available, Turner was known to be battling Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder he revealed in 2018, just over a month before his 80th birthday. In early 2025, he was hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia before recovering at a rehabilitation facility.