Ted Turner, the late CNN founder and second-largest landowner in the United States, has left his $2.8 billion fortune and two million acres of land to charity, rather than to his five children. Turner died at the age of 87 on Wednesday, as reported by CNN, the network he founded.
Turner's Philanthropic Legacy
Turner was among the first to sign The Giving Pledge in 2010, promising to leave 'virtually all' of his vast wealth to charitable causes. In his pledge letter, he wrote: 'I don't measure success in numbers, but I consider my contributions of more than 1.3 billion dollars to various causes over the years to be one of my proudest accomplishments and the best investment I've ever made.' He added, 'Those dollars have improved lives, saved species, fought disease, educated children, inspired change, challenged ideas and opened minds; and at the time of my death, virtually all of my wealth will have gone to charity.'
Turner also requested to leave 'just enough money for a funeral.' Other notable signatories of The Giving Pledge include Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.
Land Holdings and Conservation
Turner's vast land portfolio includes 13 ranch-style properties across Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and South Dakota. The properties, managed under Turner Enterprises, are renowned for their conservation efforts, including bison restoration, responsible land management, and protection of native ecosystems. Among the largest is the 560,000-acre Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico and Colorado, and the 113,000-acre Flying D Ranch in Montana.
Rather than being divided among heirs, Turner's land will transition to being run by his foundation and established trusts, ensuring the land remains intact and continues to be operated with his conservation-driven philosophy. Turner Enterprises will manage the land for conservation and prevent traditional development.
Children's Involvement
Turner's five children—Laura Turner Seydel, Robert 'Teddy' Turner, Rhett Turner, Beau Turner, and Jennie Turner Garlington—have not publicly commented on the change in property ownership. However, all five are involved in the foundation and plan to continue their father's conservation legacy. The children were born from Turner's marriages to Judy Nye and Jane Smith; he was also married to Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001.
Impact and Future
During his lifetime, Turner used the ranches for bison restoration and conservation, leading one of the largest private conservation efforts in the US. His goals for the foundation include improving air and water quality, developing sustainable energy, protecting climate, safeguarding environmental health, maintaining wildlife habitat, and curbing population growth.
Before his death, Turner had already begun transferring ownership of some ranches, including 80,000 acres in Nebraska, to the Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture, a nonprofit that will continue running the land and paying property taxes. Turner's aim was to keep all the lands as 'functioning Great Plains ecosystems, home to over 51,000 bison.'
