Ted Turner, the broadcasting entrepreneur and founder of CNN, has passed away at the age of 87. Born in Cincinnati and educated at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Turner’s business career began when he took over his family’s Atlanta-based company in 1963 following his father’s death. He revolutionized the media landscape in the 1970s by transforming a struggling UHF station into the nationwide cable giant TBS.

His streak of innovation continued with the 1980 launch of CNN, the world’s first 24-hour news network, followed by the creation of TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies. Even as he expanded his empire—which eventually merged with Time Warner Inc. in a multi-billion dollar deal—Turner remained a prominent figure in sports as the owner of the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks, and as a champion yachtsman who won the America’s Cup.

He famously donated $1 billion to establish the United Nations Foundation and created the Nuclear Threat Initiative to address global security. His passion for nature was reflected in both the Turner Foundation and his business ventures, such as Ted’s Montana Grill, which promoted bison conservation. Throughout his life, Turner’s bold personality and leadership earned him numerous accolades, including a Peabody Award and induction into the U.S. Business Hall of Fame, leaving behind a legacy that fundamentally altered the fields of global communication and charitable giving.