Ted Turner, the billionaire media entrepreneur who founded CNN and transformed global television news, was also a father of five children. While Turner became internationally famous for launching the world’s first 24-hour news channel, his family life largely remained private over the years.
Turner, who died today at the age of 87, had children from his earlier marriages and relationships before becoming globally recognized as one of the most influential figures in media history.
How Many Children Did Ted Turner Have?
Ted Turner had five children:
- Beau Turner
- Teddy Turner
- Jennie Turner
- Laura Turner Seydel
- Rhett Turner
Several of Turner’s children became involved in environmental, philanthropic, and business initiatives connected to the Turner family legacy.
Laura Turner Seydel: Environmental Advocate and Climate Leader
Laura Turner Seydel is a prominent national and international environmental advocate, eco-living expert, and chair of the Captain Planet Foundation, which her father helped establish. She co-founded the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper in 1994 and leads Mothers and Others for Clean Air. Her work focuses on clean air and water, recycling, biodiversity, climate solutions (including Project Drawdown), and engaging youth in stewardship.
She serves on numerous boards, including the UN Foundation, Waterkeeper Alliance, League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, and more. Laura and her husband Rutherford live in Atlanta in one of the first LEED Gold-certified residences in the U.S. They have three children: John R. (sustainability professional), Vasser, and Laura Elizabeth, plus grandchildren.
Teddy Turner (Robert Edward Turner IV): Sailor, Educator, and Business Veteran
Teddy Turner has a diverse background in media, international relations, and sailing. He worked at Turner Broadcasting and CNN (including time in the Moscow bureau), contributed to the Goodwill Games, and skippered a Whitbread Round the World Race campaign. He later ran Charleston Boatworks, a yacht repair and brokerage firm in South Carolina.
Today, he teaches high school economics at Charleston Collegiate School. He serves on boards including the South Carolina Aquarium, Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, and South Carolina Maritime Foundation. A Citadel graduate (Class of 1985), Teddy lives in Charleston with his wife Blair and their three children.
Beau Turner (Reed Beauregard Turner): Conservationist and Youth Outdoors Advocate
Beau Turner serves as Chairman of the Turner Endangered Species Fund and Director of Natural Resources and Biodiversity for Turner Enterprises. He oversees wildlife projects across the family’s roughly 2 million acres, balancing conservation with sustainable for-profit ventures like the world’s largest bison operation.
He sits on boards of the Turner Foundation, Captain Planet Foundation, Peregrine Fund, and works with groups like Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation. His signature project is the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center in Florida, which gets kids outdoors through hands-on experiences in conservation, archery, fishing, and renewable energy. Beau resides in Florida and has a son, Beau Jr.
Jennie Turner Garlington (Sara Jean Turner Garlington): TV Producer and Sustainability Champion
Jennie Garlington has been a Turner Foundation trustee since 1990 and previously served on the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation board. She is an accomplished television producer who worked on CNN’s Earth Matters (1994–2001), covering stories on wildlife, islands, and conservation.
She created and hosts EcoSense for Living, an Emmy-winning TV show promoting sustainable lifestyles, green jobs, and reducing environmental footprints. Jennie and her husband Peek live in Lexington, Kentucky, with their six children: Anna Easton, Martha Hope, Julius Peek Jr., Sara Bailey, Haven McCoy, and Jane Grayson.
Rhett Turner: Award-Winning Filmmaker and Photographer
Rhett Turner is president of Red Sky Productions, specializing in environmental documentaries. His credits include Pollinators in Peril, El Lobo: The Song of the Wolf, and Chattahoochee: From Water War to Water Vision (multiple Emmy nominations). He is also a highly acclaimed photographer whose work documents conservation on Turner properties.
A graduate of The Citadel and the Rhode Island School of Design, Rhett has filmed in diverse locations worldwide. His book Conserving America’s Wildlands: The Vision of Ted Turner showcases his photography of the family’s conservation efforts. He is an Eagle Scout and father to a son
Ted Turner’s Family Legacy
Beyond building CNN and Turner Broadcasting, Ted Turner was deeply passionate about conservation, wildlife protection, and philanthropy. His children have continued parts of that legacy through environmental initiatives and charitable work.
Turner’s impact on media changed television forever, but his influence also extended through his family, many of whom remained involved in conservation and public service efforts after his death in 2026.