Ted Turner, the former owner of the Atlanta Braves and founder of CNN, died at 87 after suffering from Lewy Body Dementia. In a statement, Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said: “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.”
However, the billionaire's death has only increased interest in his massive inheritance and reported will. According to RadarOnline.com, all of Turner's money will not go to his five children. Ted Turner was worth $2.8 billion at the time of his death, as per Forbes.
The 87-year-old was considered America's fourth-largest individual landowner, with roughly 2 million acres. However, much of his fortune is expected to be directed toward environmental and philanthropic causes, RadarOnline.com reported exclusively.
Over the years, Turner repeatedly stated publicly that he intended to give away the majority of his wealth to causes tied to conservation, wildlife protection and clean energy.
Family reportedly understood Turner’s plans, with sources close to the family saying that the billionaire had long made it clear that his fortune would not simply become a traditional inheritance.
“Ted always believed the money had a bigger purpose. His children were raised knowing that conservation and philanthropy mattered more to him than dynastic wealth,” a source close to the Turner family said.
Another insider added: “He wanted his legacy to outlive cable television or baseball teams. The fortune was always going to support the environmental causes he spent decades building.”
Turner donated billions long before his death, committing enormous portions of his wealth to global causes. The billionaire famously donated $1 billion to the United Nations during his lifetime, one of the largest philanthropic gifts ever made by an individual at the time.
In his later years, Turner focused heavily on conservation and land preservation efforts across the western US.
