Ted Turner’s net worth is $2.5 – $2.8 billion as of 2025. He is one of the richest media persons in the US and also owns thousands of acres of property in the country. He amassed this fortune through his media channel CNN, real estate network, and philanthropic efforts.
However, Ted Turner didn’t gather the money overnight. From becoming one of the biggest media moguls in 1996 to watching all his wealth crumble in front of him due to the Time Warner and AOL merger, he has seen a lot in his life.
This article will provide a quick look at the total net worth of the media personality, his career growth, and the ups and downs in his life.
Quick Facts
Before diving deep into the details, have a look at the key facts about Ted Turner’s life:
| Category | Details |
| Real Name | Robert Edward Turner III |
| Popular Name | Ted Turner |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Date | November 19, 1938 |
| Age | 86 (as of March 2025) |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Parents | Robert Edward Turner II and Florence (Rooney) Turner Carter |
| Siblings | Mary Jane Turner |
| Birthplace | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Current Residence | Avalon Plantation Estate, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Agonist |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Education | Attended the McCallie School and Brown University, expelled; received an honorary degree from Brown University in 1989 |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Spouse | Previously married to Judy Nye, Jane Shirley Smith, and Jane Fonda |
| Children | Five: Laura Turner Seydel, Rhett Turner, Jennie Garlington, Reed Beauregard Turner, and Robert Edward “Teddy” Turner IV |
| Net Worth | $2.5 billion |
| Annual Income | – |
| Source of Wealth | Cable Television and Media |
| Height | 6.1-2 feet |
| Weight | 70 kg |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Professional Titles | Founder of CNN, TBS, TNT; Media Mogul |
| Notable Awards | Lone Sailor Award from the United States Navy Memorial |
| Unique Achievement | Founded the first 24-hour cable news network (CNN) |
| Primary Income Streams | Media and Entertainment |
| Notable Publications | Call Me Ted |
| Social Media Presence | Facebook (Page): @Ted-Turner-100044331434417
X: TedTurnerIII |
| Professional Expertise | Media Entrepreneurship, Television Production |
| Languages | English |
| Philanthropic Interests | Environmental Conservation, Nuclear Disarmament (co-founded Nuclear Threat Initiative) |
| Hobbies | Sailing |
| Personal Brands | Ted’s Montana Grill |
| Unique Characteristics | Known as “The Mouth of the South” and “Captain Outrageous” for his outspoken personality |
Ted Turner’s Net Worth Over the Years
Ted Turner’s net worth of $2.5 billion is the result of his years of hard work. He inherited his father’s billboard income in 1963 and turned it into a media empire. However, his income started growing after the launch of his media networks, TBS and CNN. Here is a quick look at his income growth over the years:
- 1970s: Ted entered the millionaire bracket and made his first $100 million after the success of his TV station, WJRJ-Atlanta.
- 1980s: He reached the mark of a billionaire as he launched CNN and bought MGM for $1.5 – $1.6 billion in 1986.
- 1990s: His income peaked at $10 billion after he sold TBS for $7.5 billion to Time Warner.
- 2001: Ted Turner saw his first plummet after the merger of Time Warner and AOL. His income decreased due to a lower stock value of the newly formed company, AOL Time Warner. The new numbers were lower than $8 billion.
- 2002: Ted Turner received even worse news when his asset value was around $3.8 billion due to a continuous loss in AOL Time Warner stock.
- 2003: Turner’s wealth kept decreasing due to losses in AOL Time Warner and reached the figure of $2 billion.
- 2004 – 2010: Ted decided to focus on other ventures, such as bison ranching and the Ted’s Montana Grill restaurant chain. He maintained his wealth at nearly $2 billion, owing to his large real estate of millions of acres.
- 2010 – 2024: His worth was consistently between $2 – $2.5 billion during this period. At that time, he made bucks mostly by selling and acquiring property.
- 2025: As of 2025, Turner hasn’t bought any new property. His latest income is around $2.8 billion dollars, and he is ranked #1274 globally.
Real Estate of Ted Turner
Ted Turner is one of the top 5 largest landowners in the US. In 2025, he owned a large property of over 2 million acres in various states of the United States, including New Mexico, Montana, and South Dakota.
Turner uses his properties’ real estate for business and mostly for wildlife conservation purposes. His ranches are used for the preservation of bison herds and sustainable land management. The following is a complete breakdown of the land owned by Ted Turner:
Vermejo Park Ranch, New Mexico: This is his largest property, spanning over an area of 590,000 acres.
Nebraska Ranches: In Nebraska, Ted owns around 400,000 acres of land in Cherry, Garden, and Sheridan counties.
Kansas Ranches: There are many ranches in Kansas that are owned by Turner, including Z Bar Ranch and Snowcrest Ranch.
Montana Ranches: This is one of his earliest investments and includes places like Flying D Ranch.
Other Properties: Apart from the above-mentioned lands, Ted Turner’s portfolio also includes properties in South Dakota and Colorado.
The following Ted Turner Ranches map provides you with a quick look at the property details of the tycoon:
Philanthropy & Charity Contributions
Apart from media and land ownership, if there is one thing Ted Turner is famous for, it is his philanthropy and charity work. In 1997, he made a pledge to donate $1 billion for the creation of United Nations Funds. This fund helped children all over the world fight lethal diseases like polio and measles.
Apart from the above work, he has established the following charity foundations and funds:
Turner Foundation: This establishment is primarily focused on the environmental conversation, sustainability, and wildlife protection. The Turner Foundation was founded in 1990 and has donated over $380 million.
Turner Endangered Species Fund: This fund was made in 1997 with the sole purpose of looking after and conserving endangered species. It works by restoring their natural habitats and reintroducing them.
Captain Planet Foundation: One year later, Ted founded Captain Planet Foundation in 1991 to support environmental projects to address the risks associated with the environment.
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI): Along with Sam Nunn, Turner made NTI in 2001. Its purpose was to keep a check on the nuclear, chemical, and biological threats.
Other Charity Works: Turner has donated $6.4 million each to Brown University and every institution he and his children have ever attended. Further, he has also signed The Giving Pledge in 2010, vowing to donate the majority of his wealth to charity after his death.
Ted Turner Personal Life
Here is a quick look at the personal life of Ted Turner:
Early Life
An American activist, entrepreneur, TV producer, and media mogul, Ted Turner was born on November 19, 1938. Known as Robert Edward Turner III, he spent 9 years of his life in Cincinnati before moving to Savannah.
He got his early education from a private boys school, The McCallie School. Turner attended Brown University and initially majored in classics. However, he changed his major to economics but was expelled after being found with a girl in the dormitory room. He received an honorary B.A. from Brown University in 1989, as he returned to give a keynote address to the National Association of College Broadcasters.
Marriage Life
Ted Turner has married three times in his life. Here is a timeline of his marriage:
- First Marriage: His first marriage was to Judy Gale Nye, which lasted 4 years (1960-1964). Ted has 2 children from his first wife, Laura Lee Turner and Robert Edward Turner IV.
- Second Marriage: Ted’s second wife was Jane Shirley Smith, and this marriage lasted for almost 23 years (1965-1988). With Jane, he has 3 children: Beau Turner, Rhett Turner, and Jennie Turner.
- Third Marriage: In 1991, Ted Turner tied knots with actress Jane Fonda. This marriage lasted for 11 years and ended in a divorce in 2001. The couple divorced due to a religious difference, and Jade received a settlement of $40 million.
How Did Ted Turner Build His Wealth?
Ted Turner has built his wealth through various ventures and struggles. Here is a quick look at his fight and innovative business evolution:
Early Struggle
Ted Turner started his journey of riches by inheriting his father’s billboard business, Turner Advertising, in 1963. At that time, it was worth $1 million. Ted renamed the company to Turner Communications and expanded the business to focus on television.
Business Empire
Here is how Ted Turner has established his media empire:
- WJRJ-TV: Ted bought an Atlanta UHF station, WJRJ-TV, in 1970. Its purpose was to lay the foundation for his upcoming Turner Broadcasting System (TBS).
- CNN: Ted Turner is known as the founder of the first 24-hour broadcasting news channel, known as CNN (Cable News Network), in 1980
- Expansion of His Media: His empire expanded after he launched TBS and Turner Network Television (TNT). In 1986, he even acquired MGM/UA to enlarge its media holdings.
- Acquisition and Sales: Turner sold the TBS network to Time Warner for $7.5 billion to increase his net worth. He also owned a baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, from 1976 to 2007.
- Land Holdings: Turner owns over 2 million acres of land in the US for the purpose of bison ranching and sustainable practices. Further, he also owns a chain of restaurants named Ted’s Montana Grill.
- WCW and Wrestling Business: In 1988, Ted Turner played a part in the promotion of the wrestling business. He bought Jim Crockett Promotions and rebranded it as World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Ted provided various financial resources to uplift the wrestling game, starting competition against the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during Monday Night War.
Companies Owned by Ted Turner
Here is a complete list of all the companies owned by Ted Turner:
- Cable News Network (CNN)
- Turner Broadcasting System (TBS)
- Turner Network Television (TNT)
- Cartoon Network (CN)
- Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
- Turner Entertainment Company
- Castle Rock Entertainment
- New Line Cinema
- Hanna-Barbera Productions
- Atlanta Braves
- Atlanta Hawks
- Atlanta Thrashers
- World Championship Wrestling (WCW)
- Ted’ Montana Grill
- Turner Enterprises, Inc.
- Turner Renewable Energy (TRE)
- United Nations Foundation
- Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)
- Turner Ranches
Ted Turner’s Health and Current Status
Ted Turner is alive. However, this 86-year-old media mogul is suffering from various diseases. Currently, he is hospitalized due to a mild case of pneumonia and was transferred to a rehabilitation center in Florida.
Apart from that, he also has been having Lewy Body Dementia since 2018, a condition similar to Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, he is undergoing recovery and is expected to heal in the near future.
Comparison of Ted Turner’s Net Worth with Other Famous Personalities
Here is a comparison of Ted Turner’s net worth with that of other famous personalities:
- Vince McMahon Net Worth: $3 – $3.11 billion
- Rupert Murdoch Net Worth: $23 billion
- Jane Fonda Net Worth: $200 – $220 million
- Mike Lindell Net Worth: $50 – $174 million
- E Jean Carroll Net Worth: $1 – $7 million
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that Ted Turner’s net worth is $2.5 – $2.8 billion in 2025. He gathered his income due to his hard work over the years, starting by inheriting his father’s business in 1963.
These media moguls handled the reins of the Turner Broadcasting business and turned it into an empire. Currently, he is not only one of the 5 largest landowners in the USA; he also has dozens of companies in his portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the Political Views of Ted Turner?
The political views of Ted Turner are left-of-center. He doesn’t directly support any party. However, he endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential Election Campaign, showing his interest in the Democratic Party.
Q: What is the Ranking of Ted Turner Among Billionaires?
A: Ted Turner ranks 1284th among the global billionaires. In the USA, he stands at 465th position among billionaires.
Q: What are Some Notable Achievements of Ted Turner in His Sailing Career?
A: Some notable achievements of Tod Turner in sailing competitions include the America’s Cup Hall of Fame and the National Sailing Hall of Fame.
Q: Where does Ted Turner Live Now?
A: Currently, Ted Turner lives in Avalon Plantation, Florida, in his luxury Colonial Revival house. He also has various rental properties in New Mexico and Montana.