In late 1997, Ted Turner met with then-Secretary-General of the UN Kofi Annan and made a stunning offer: He wanted to give the UN $1 billion, motivated by a deeply held belief that tackling the world’s toughest challenges – from climate change to nuclear proliferation – could only succeed with a strong and effective United Nations. Just days later, at the 1997 UNA-USA Global Leadership Awards, Ted publicly announced his unprecedented $1 billion gift to support the UN and UN causes, the largest philanthropic donation ever made by an individual up to that moment. The following year, he established the United Nations Foundation as the vehicle for this catalytic gift.
Ted’s commitment to the UN and its vital mission extended far beyond his initial, history-making gift.
Ted led the UN Foundation as Chairman of the Board of Directors since its creation in 1998. The organization has remained true to Ted’s founding goal, to use his gift to attract additional resources for the UN, catalyze novel partnerships to advance UN priorities, and grow diverse and durable constituencies for the UN and its highest goals and values.
Inspired by Ted’s vision, the UN Foundation has worked for nearly three decades to mobilize ideas, people, and resources to help solve global problems at scale; and help the UN tackle the most urgent issues facing humanity. We are proud of being part of the mission Ted set in motion, and determined to carry it forward with integrity, urgency, and courage in his honor.
To mark the UN Foundation’s 25th anniversary in 2023, our Board shared reflections on Ted’s founding vision and enduring legacy.
Ted Turner was larger than life – a visionary recognized throughout his career for entrepreneurial acumen, sharp business skills, transformative vision for media, zeal for competition — and unprecedented philanthropy.
He began his career as an account executive with Turner Advertising Company and entered the television business in 1970 when he acquired Atlanta independent UHF station channel 17. By 1980, Ted had launched the world’s first live, 24-hour global news network: CNN.
He also made his mark as one of the most influential philanthropists in the world. He was the chairman of the Turner Foundation, founded in 1990, which supported efforts to conserve land, improve air and water quality, and develop a sustainable energy future to protect our climate, among other environmental efforts.
The Turner Endangered Species Fund, launched in June 1997, was a core grantee of the Turner Foundation, which worked to conserve biodiversity by emphasizing restoration efforts of endangered or imperiled species on the Turner properties.
Ted and executive producer Barbara Pyle launched the animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers in 1990. One year later, Pyle created the Captain Planet Foundation to fund and support hands-on, environmental projects for children and youth.
In September 1997, Ted announced his historic pledge of up to $1 billion to the United Nations to promote a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world. The following year, he created the United Nations Foundation and its sister institution, the Better World Fund as vehicles to leverage that unprecedented gift into impact. Ted often described the UN Foundation as “the best investment I ever made.”
In early 2001, Ted launched the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), a foundation he co-chaired initially with former Senator Sam Nunn and later with former U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz. NTI works to close the growing and increasingly dangerous gap between the threat from nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and the global response.
For many years, Ted devoted his time and energy toward promoting the use of clean energy sources. Through Turner Renewable Energy, he demonstrated that investing in renewable energy was not only a prudent financial decision, but also a crucial step toward ensuring our planet’s future health.
Ted was the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, industry awards, and civic honors, including being named TIME Magazine’s 1991 Man of the Year, Broadcasting and Cable’s Man of the Century in 1999, and one of TIME 100 World’s Most Influential People in 2009. He also received the Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy in 2016, and in 2017, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, among many others. In 2024, Max (formerly HBO Max) aired a six-part series, “Call Me Ted,” chronicling Ted’s life in his own words, and his philanthropic efforts.
Reflections on Ted Turner’s Legacy