Ted Turner's Success Story

Founder of the world’s first round-the-clock news network CNN

Ted Turner is a popular U.S. entrepreneur, famous for being Founder of the world’s first round-the-clock news network CNN. Today he’s one of the richest men in the world, owns the Atlanta Braves and is also known for his philanthropic activity.

Let me introduce you where and how Ted Turner’s success story began. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 19, 1938, his family moved to Tennessee when he was 9 years old. There he attended Brown University, studying Economics, but not for long, because he got expelled after he was caught with a female student in his dormitory room. During these years Ted was best known for his eccentric and sometimes scandalous behavior. People called him “The Terrible Ted”; he grew grass in his dorm and had interests in taxidermy.

On the age of 24 Ted faced one of the biggest tragedies that could happen – his father committed suicide. That was a great sorrow for him and his family, but he got himself together and took control over his father’s billboard business.

In the course of the next 10 years Ted Turner proved his competitive skills, which led him to victory in the yachting’s American Cup. The next milestone in his life comes in 1976, when he buys the Atlanta Braves and one year later the Atlanta Hawks. At that time approximately begins the history of the Cable News Network. The year is 1980. The first channel, providing 24-hour television news coverage, is launched and is quickly gaining popularity. CNN built up a prominent reputation, because of its reporters, who were always first on any scene. Events, such as the Challenger disaster in 1986 and the first Persian Gulf War in 1991, marked CNN as a serious network with a great future. And so it was. Today CNN is one of the most famous TV channels in the world.

An interesting fact about Ted Turner is that he is a big fan of hunting and fishing, and is maybe the biggest landowner in the United States, possessing around 2 million acres and the largest herd of bisons (more than 32 000 head).

Ted Turner was married for the fitness guru and actress Jane Fonda, but they broke up in 2001.