Ted Turner, the visionary billionaire who transformed the landscape of global media by founding the Cable News Network (CNN), has passed away at the age of 87.

While an official cause of death has not been formally announced, Turner revealed in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological condition for which he had been receiving treatment.

Turner revolutionized the communications industry in 1980 by launching CNN as the world’s first 24-hour news channel. His business empire expanded significantly across the entertainment and sports sectors, eventually leading to the landmark 1996 merger between Turner Broadcasting System and Time Warner.

In addition to his commercial success, Turner was a prolific philanthropist and environmental advocate. In 1997, he famously pledged $1 billion to United Nations environmental programs, an act he later described as the most impactful investment of his life. He continued to be a major benefactor for various conservation groups throughout his later years.

Born in Cincinnati in 1938, Turner rose to prominence after taking over his late father’s billboard advertising company. Although he attended military school and was a gifted debater, he did not complete his higher education at Brown University. He entered the television industry in 1970 by purchasing a struggling Atlanta station, which he transformed into a global powerhouse through the innovative use of satellite technology.