Ted Turner Looks Back

Media Mogul Talks About His Life, Loves, Personal Struggles And Business

(CBS)  Ted Turner is like Dracula: you have to drive a stake through his heart to stop him, and though many have come close, he's back.

Though he's gone from being a really rich man to a mere billionaire, he's maintained the manic energy that drove him to change the landscape of the information age by creating CNN and 24-hour news.

The uncompromising competitor - who won the America's Cup, is the ex-husband of Jane Fonda, the batty billionaire who challenged his arch enemy, fellow billionaire Rupert Murdoch to a boxing match, once described as both genius and jackass - has now decided to reflect on a tumultuous life and more or less tell all in a memoir

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Ted Turner is the largest individual landowner in the U.S., owning two million acres across 12 states. 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer caught up with him at one of his Montana ranches.

This lonesome cowboy hates his own company: he admits he doesn't like being alone.

"These are big places to be alone, I'll tell you. Come out here and spend the night by yourself some time, you know, the coyote's out there howling," Turner says, howling. "You know, and it's pretty scary."

At the Snowcrest Ranch, Ted Turner is not alone. He keeps company with bison, horses and a stream full of Ruby River trout.

Life is good for Turner. He's not your average old-age pensioner: this most restless of men jets around the world promoting good causes, dreaming up new business ventures, and dropping in on his dozens of properties scattered about the hemisphere.

And now, as he turns 70, he's written his book. After his morning ride, the man who proudly says he never looks back, decided to do just that: to let Ted reflect on Ted.

"I've had the good fortune to have a much more diverse life than most people would, professional sports and television and news and movies," he says.

And he says his personal has been a lot of fun.

Turner burst on the scene when he captained "Courageous," the yacht that won the America's Cup.

But it was his groundbreaking creation of CNN that put Turner indelibly on the map. But, his company's rapid growth and ballooning debt nearly bankrupted him.

"I was gonna go broke if I didn't get things turned around real fast. But I was able to get it refinanced, without government help, I might add, unlike what's going on today, but we made it. But by the skin on our chinny chin chin. And two years later we made a run at CBS, unsuccessful, but we did take a swing," he says.

Instead, Turner went on to create his own broadcasting powerhouse, and when he merged his company with Time Warner in 1996, his status as media visionary was confirmed. "I didn't care what, how much adversity life threw at me. I intended to get to the top," he says.

The adversity started at infancy. Shipped off to boarding school at the age of 4, followed by years of military school for discipline, he says his alcoholic father did everything he could to toughen him up.

"You had a pretty tough father," Safer comments.

"So what. You know, lots of people have tough fathers," Turner replies.

"Well, he beat you up," Safer points out.

"No, he didn't beat me up. He spanked me," Turner says.

Turner says he was spanked with a wire hanger a couple of times, and admits it was traumatic, but says, "He was doing it to make me better."

Asked if he thinks it made him better, Turner says, "I think so."

At age 21, he began working for his father's outdoor advertising business. But shortly after, an event took place that both shaped and shattered Ted Turner: his father committed suicide.

"Were you out to prove something to him even though he was gone?" Safer asks.

"He wanted me to be a big success. And all my life I've tried to be a big success. So his influence was huge," Turner says.

[sigmonde]

Tough choice. Being alone with howling wolves or having Jane Fonda in your face 24/7. better the wolves.

[cjs1943]

These 2 idiots deserve each other. He may know how to start and run a business and she may have talent to act, but other than that, they are really a couple of empty human beings.

[kbhvac]

There is that joke about waking up next to someone who is so ugly you would chew your arm off to get away without waking them up.

''coyote ugly''

The second song on the cd.

The first being, ''The gals all get prettier at closing time.''

It must be getting close to ''closin time'' for Ted and Jane.

But the song most requested by the man she knew as cowboy was the late nite benediction at the ya''ll come back saloon.

4th;Thank God and greyhound and she''s gone.

5th He stopped lovin her today

6th She stole my coyote and ran off with best friend.
I sure gonna miss my coyote.

[markramseymd]

I think that''s sweet. Whoever called them idiots is just mean. Sounds like he''s a little needy, but counseling can help. Maybe they should think about it.

[Yeeeech]

Oh please!

[thetwigman]

What a travesty that the REAL Montanans have been afflicted with this pansy. You must be kidding me...You''re Scared? Scared of what? You need to grow a set or maybe buy a rifle and learn to eat some of the things you are scared of. Jesus Christ man.

You *** city dwelling want-to-be country idiots have ruined Montana and Idaho.

[rccpepper]

Dont worry Ted, obama is going to take your vast amounts of land and spread the wealth - you wont be alone for long.

Or is obama only going to take the REAL AMERICANS wealth to spread and leave the LIBERAL HYPOCRITES (TED TURNER) wealth alone?

[brsecu]

Bwhahahaha funny stuff. No one wants you anymore jane Fonda. You all have to see this... HalfPad.org

[alisoncarnie]

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel said "There are people who have money and there are people who are rich."

Seems Ted Turner is simply a person with money.

[sarahtx2]

May I come and keep you company, Ted?

CNN is telling us all to suck up to our bosses to keep our jobs. Can I suck up to you instead?

[slapshot1998]

Get some VC to man a SAM site out there and Jane will come a run''n.

[thetwigman]

What a travesty that the REAL Montanans have been afflicted with this pansy. You must be kidding me...You''''re Scared? Scared of what? You need to grow a set or maybe buy a rifle and learn to eat some of the things you are scared of. Jesus Christ man.

You *** city dwelling want-to-be country idiots have ruined Montana and Idaho.

[montanaman9]

You *** city dwelling want-to-be country idiots have ruined Montana and Idaho.


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Posted by TheTwigMan

I absolutely agree. What a wimp. I''ve seen this guy strolling around Bozeman with his brand-new $1000 boots and driving his $100,000 Range Rover....that''s never seen dirt. Scared of coyotes? You''ve got to be kidding me.....

[pomoc-2009]

Ted is a good guyIhave great memoreis from his sailing days he needs to look forward not backwards or he will hit a hardwall GO FOR IT TED with a little effort you can be very happy.

[warrwim]

Ted has suffered from depression throughout his life which has been publically documented and openly discussed by Captain Courageous himself. I don''t agree with Ted''s politics but consider him a visionary, a sportsman and a generous leader. He gave a great talk at Georgetown back in 1982 or 1983 and I''ve been impressed with him ever since. Go in peace!

[thetwigman]

America69:
What are you... Ted''s little sister? You are probably just like ol'' Ted. Or maybe you are one the the thousands of worthless Californians who ruined our way of life with the lack of character.

My guess is you couldn''t shoot your way out of a wet paper bag. In fact, you have probably shot your mouth off more than you have a gun...

Anytime you think you have the sack for it come out to Idaho and talk your tough guy city talk. It''s likely you will learn what it feels like to have a foot up your butt instead of your mouth.

[fr0andtee]

I''m not Fonda Jane

[BobMaine]

"want-to-be country idiot"

Why would anyone want to be a country idiot?

[sarahtx2]

Gee, I really want a man who can shoot his way out of a wet paper bag. That''s a big accomplishment and a great leap for mankind. Seriously, is that as good as it gets in Montana and Idaho?

Poor Ted.

[thetwigman]

Yes. This is all Idaho and Montana has to offer. There is nothing to see here...please keep driving.

[kmagrammy]

I mean, really, who cares?

[mjm117]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh! I have 2 million acres...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

[truth_police]

I think what Turner said was that it was scary living in a sprawling million dollar Montana mansion, alone, because he could hear "coyotes out there howling." Of this he said try it sometime, "It''s pretty scary." This is a classic example of how alienated wealthy people are from ''nature'' and reality. It is also a perfect example of why wealthy pampered socialites should NOT be put in positions where they are making important decisions that significantly impact on ordinary people who are not, typically, so divorced from nature and reality. Because America has failed to understand this, it is not surprising that the economy, the environment, the government and the corporate sector are as profoundly screwed up as they are. These ''out of touch'' power and influence brokers (like George Will) are always the ones erroneously telling us that everything is just hunky dory when it is NOT. And this is why.

[jimesmith2]

Geeez -- there''s a lot of leftover anger from the conservative losers! Haven''t any of you ever broken up with someone you still loved, but couldn''t be in a relationship with? Why don''t all you conservatives go outside and shoot your guns into a few empty beer cans and work out your anger?

[Marie Zarankevich]

Hey Folks. -- When you are lonely, and in need, may you all find someone as warm and comforting as yourselves to care for your heart. -- Good Luck!

Two huge losers that thoroughly deserve each other. They should be tearfully reunited, preferably in prison. Good riddance to beyond bad rubbish.

[lauren0211]

I feel no saddnes for Ted Turner. He can have anybody and anything he wants. But just because you have tons of money, does not bring happiness, you have to be flexible in a relationship, you have to work at it if you really love someone. I have always been one of his fans. Ted, I too don'' like being alone. E-mail me.....

[thetwigman]

Truth Police:

Well said. Unfortunately, people that haven''t been directly affected by wealthy individuals ransacking their states don''t have an clue.

I hope to be wealthy enough some day to vote for a Democrat or a Republican.

[usclimey]

Two huge losers that thoroughly deserve each other. They should be tearfully reunited, preferably in prison. Good riddance to beyond bad rubbish.

Posted by nostudme

Such nice people conservatives are. No doubt they''ll be around doing their best to put the negative side forward every day for the next eight years. From what I know of Mr Turner, he''s philanthropic, generous to a fault and a visionary and he hates Murdoch. Not exactly a loser unlike yourself; no stud me.

[montanaman9]

As a native Montanan, I can speak for numerous other sportsman who rue the day when Ted discovered Montana. He came in, bought and assembled numerous properties to create the Flying D, and now the Snowcrest in southwest Montana, total acreage well over 200,000 acres, and shut it off to sportsmen and women, for his own private game reserves and his own ego. These were ranch lands that had been open to generations of Montana hunters and their families,with permission of course, but now are closed down for at least as long as Ted owns them. It is a true blue bummer for us guys and our sons and daughters who used to enjoy this piece of our heritage, but didn''t have the money that Ted does to buy those ranches...now we don''t have the access either...Thanks Ted

[thetwigman]

Thank you MontanaMan. You crystallized my thoughts perfectly.

Here, we have a real life example of future generations being affected by the greed and ego of a wealthy individual.

You may think us nasty and mean "conservatives" (which by the way has nothing to do with this subject) but if you had lived in a place for generations you would probably have a different perspective. It would surprise me if you weren''t a little bitter yourselves.

[blackyowe]

I have coyotes howling here when I am alone and they don''t scare me. I go out on the deck to hear better in the middle of the night sometimes.

[heritagemom]

Read between the lines folks. You know *** well he looks out over his kingdom and can''t believe how he actually pulled it off. It''s bragging, not loneliness. Technically, I''m his next door neighbor--I live in North Dakota.

[gramto8]

Here, we have a real life example of future generations being affected by the greed and ego of a wealthy individual.

You may think us nasty and mean "conservatives" (which by the way has nothing to do with this subject) but if you had lived in a place for generations you would probably have a different perspective. It would surprise me if you weren''''t a little bitter yourselves.

Posted by TheTwigMan at 05:13 PM : Nov 07, 2008

So according to you and montanaman, no one should have the right to bar anyone from accessing their property. Private property means nothing to you, huh? Does that mean that anyone who wants to can go into your home and help themselves to anything they want?

[thisandthat1]

"He touches me deeply"? Isn''t that the whole idea?

[itgranny]

montanaman9: I could almost feel sorry for your plight except that I myself am the owner of a nice piece of wildlife habitat. I''ve been in this place for 20 years and have turned away probably a hundred hunters. It''s not that I''m against hunting, it''s the rudeness and the people that just want hand outs.

If there had ever been one person who asked me in the springtime if there was anything they could do to help me I probably would let them hunt here. so far no one''s offered to help plant or water new trees or spray for noxious weeds or any sort of help whatsoever.

Then i got the jerks that think they are so cute standing at the edge of my property (right by the no hunting sign) and send their dogs in to scare up pheasants, they shoot them, the dog brings them back. That''s how they deal with "no trespassing!"

And then there''s the ones that will go in anyhow. My dad''s place had some SOB''s that trespassed, shot a deer, and rather than get off their lazy azzes and tote it out, they cut the fence, drove the truck through the alfalfa field leaving deep tracks, and didn''t bother to fix the fence.

I don''t mind hunters, but the further people get away from the land, the more inconsiderate they become. They have no idea how to treat the land or the value of what it takes to have that pristine pheasant, deer, elk land.

[shedhouserob]

I can''t help but think Ted tries to do what is right. I think he ought to get on his hands and knees, and I think Jane ought to too? and--- get back together!

[troutfisher4]

Just goes to show that money can''t buy happiness.

[antepamfe200]

I realize that there are those people who are very rich, do good things to help the less fortunate. This is to the ones who do not share. Think of all the good you could do to help those who are not as fortunate as you. Please, share. Thank you.

[antepamfe200]

Ted, you are lonely there on your land. I suggest you ask those who have no homes and have to live on the street and scrape just to survive, how lonely they are?

[Meg003]

Call up Hanoi Jane and get her fat butt over there right away - then you two can be alone together.
Posted by Speakinup21

C''mon, now. There are many accurate and well-deserved insults that can be thrown at Jane Fonda. "Fat butt" isn''t one of them. The woman is trim and fit.

[agobbler]

I was feeling a bit down until I came across this article. Now, I can''t stop laughing. I mean, who really cares anything whatsoever about people like this? They have shown consistently over their lifetimes that they care about little else than themselves. And time and again they have foisted their wrapped sense of thinking off on the American public. Thanks for the chuckles.

[agobbler]

I was feeling a bit down until I came across this article. Now, I can''t stop laughing. I mean, who really cares anything whatsoever about people like this? They have shown consistently over their lifetimes that they care about little else than themselves. And time and again they have foisted their wrapped sense of thinking off on the American public. Thanks for the chuckles.

[sheila2u-2009]

Oh yeah...heartbreaking..mega bucks low life and Hanoi Jane...I hope they are both about as lonely and miserable as G_d wants them to be...

[megawhy]

Gee Ted..will be happy. He will be able to pay all of our taxes for us. Now that we are moving to Socialism I volunteer to have Ted share some of his weatlh with me. After all it is shameful that he has so much and everyone else so little. There is no need for him to be alone on those ranches, he can share the land, use them for huge wind mills and acres of solar panels so we can get away from the evils of fossil fuels. Ah come on Ted, support the new administration and gim me gim me gim me! :-)

[wolverb]

Poor Ted, I bet it is lonely out there on 2 million acres all by yourself. I used to own 600 acres here in Texas but had to sell it to pay medical bills, but you still don''t hear me whining about national health care. But I would love to have just 100 acres where I could go and listen to the coyotes howl but I''ll never be able to afford it. So I have a real hard time feeling sorry for Ted or Jane. They have made all of their riches off of America but they hate this Nation and they refuse to give back a dime. When they start spreading the wealth, it won''t be Ted or Jane who pay.

[yourpointis]

This was just sickening.....He should try to live in a one bedroom apartment alone sometime - hearing the neighbors hollering! :)

I do NOT feel sorry for this man one bit....not one spec.

I''ll gladly trade him my 2 1/2 for his 2 million acres.....

[njdev1k]

Maybe time for Ted to find a friend.....

http://www.jokerzinternetradio.com/phpmotion/play.php?vid=104

[rational_1]

I realize that there are those people who are very rich, do good things to help the less fortunate. This is to the ones who do not share. Think of all the good you could do to help those who are not as fortunate as you. Please, share. Thank you.
Posted by antepamfe200 at 07:39 PM : Nov 07, 2008

I don''t think your entreaties are necessary - the Obamination we just elected will be forcing him to share soon enough.

[yongamerica]

It''s lonely on the top.
I bet he has has big posse though