Ted Turner's death at age 87 marks the end of a remarkable era in recent world history. Turner was more than the founder of CNN and a pioneer of the 24-hour news cycle. He was one of those uncommon billionaires who thought wealth, power, and media should be harnessed for the good of humanity. He led a life of remarkable risk-taking ambition tempered by idealism, kindness, and a global conscience. Few 20th-century tycoons had as much commercial success as Ted Turner, matched by a humanitarian focus.
