Ted Turner: Capitan Outrageous
Ted Turner has more BDE in his pencil mustache than Zuck and Musk combined. In the span of 5 years he captained a champion sailing yacht through the deadly celtic sea, pulled out an underdog win in the America’s cup, bought two professional sports teams, and created the first ever 24-hour news network: CNN. His life is what LinkedIn Lunatics fantasize about. He created TBS, TNT, TCM, Cartoon Network, AND the iconic environmental superhero cartoon, “Captain Planet.” He is cherished by unproblematic icons Jimmy Carter and Jane Fonda and despised by degenerate psychopath Rupert Murdoch.
Turner disrupted the media industry and spent years on top, but like so many of the characters in our podcast, he couldn’t conquer his inner demons. Deep trauma from a traumatic childhood and unaddressed mental health issues destroyed his marriage and threatened his fortune. In this episode, Becca & Adam trace the life of the kooky cowboy and try to figure out where it all went wrong.
Images:
Ted Turner at the launch of CNN network in 1980
Turner, seen here with his father at approximately 2 years old, was born to Florence and Robert Edward "Ed" Turner II. Turner's father ran a billboard advertising business. (CNN)
Turner married Judy Nye in 1960. The two had two children together -- Laura and Robert Edward IV -- before divorcing a few years later. (CNN)
Ted Turner and his Father on Ted’s wedding day - eventually Turner would have this picture in his office at CNN HQ in Atlanta.
Turner at an America's Cup news conference. (Dan Nernny)
Sailing: Skipper Ted Turner and crew on board the boat "Vamp X" during race from Miami to Nassau in 1966.
Ted Turner during a game which saw the Braves beat the Reds 10-5. Turner who purchased the Braves last fall for $12 million said "when you win like this it's fun, and that's what life's all about." 1976 (CNN)
Turner’s 1977 cover of Sports Illustrated. 2 Years later he’d win the America’s Cup and almost die at sea.
Ted Turner at an official CNN launch event in Atlanta, 1980
Ted Turner is interviewed at the CNN studio in Atlanta, GA 1980 Turner debuts his twenty-four hour news channel The Cable News Network this month, amidst skepticism from the major networks.
Jumpscare! “Junk Bond King” Michael Milken who scammed Turner out of $1.2B in an ill-advised MGM Acquisition. Four years later he’d plea guilty to 6 counts of securities and tax violations in an unrelated insider trading scandal. He served almost 2 years in prison and was pardoned by Donald Trump.
Captain Planet, Former President Jimmy Carter and Captain Planet Co-Founder Ted Turner appear on stage during the Captain Planet Foundation’s benefit gala at Georgia Aquarium on December 7, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Jimmy Carter received the 2012 Captain Planet Foundation Exemplar Award during the gala. (Photo by Ben Rose/Getty Images)
Ted Turner and Jane Fonda in 1990.
Ted Turner and Jerry Levin. In 1996, Turner sold his company to Time Warner for $7.34 billion. He became vice chairman after the merger. (CNN)
An iconic 1997 Vanity Fair centerfold.
Ted Turner and Jane Fonda on July 24, 1990. (Tony Duffy/ALLSPORT)
I’m not sure where I found this image or when it’s from, but Ted Turner’s mad and I love his energy.
Ted Turner looks at his portrait, unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington on Tuesday. (Photo by Lillian Cunningham/The Washington Post)
Turner in a 2018 CBS documentary.
Turner and Fonda at the the 2017 Captain Planet Foundation Gala at InterContinental Hotel Buckhead Atlanta on December 8, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. 🥹
Links:
Ted Turner, the Alexander the Great of Television