Ted Turner was married three times before his death at age 87. "Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement," CNN Worldwide chairman and CEO Mark Thompson said in a statement, confirming the media mogul's death on May 6, 2026. "He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN." Thompson continued, "Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world.