Billionaire Ted Turner Leaves Jane Fonda Out of His Will: Who Will Inherit the CNN Founder's $2.5 Billion Fortune?

Hollywood legend Jane Fonda has been left out of the multi-billion-dollar estate of her former husband, media mogul and CNN founder Ted Turner. Despite maintaining a warm relationship after their divorce and referring to him as her favourite ex-husband until the final days of his life, the actress is not named in the billionaire's final will.

According to TMZ, citing court documents, the only beneficiaries listed in the estate of the 87-year-old Turner are his five children — Laura, Robert, Rhett, Reed and Sarah. They have also petitioned to be appointed executors of their father's estate.

Ted Turner died on May 6, 2026. His fortune was estimated by media outlets at approximately $2.5 billion. According to the documents made public, his entire estate is therefore set to pass to his children.

The history of Turner's will has also attracted attention. He first placed his wealth in a trust in 2003, when he was 64. He subsequently amended the documents several times — in 2005, 2006 and 2007 — and then almost every year for the next two decades. The most recent version was prepared in 2025, just one year before his death.

Ten Years of Marriage and Love After Divorce

Jane Fonda was Ted Turner's third and final wife. They married in 1991 and separated in 2001 after a decade together. Despite their divorce, the former couple remained close, and the actress repeatedly referred to the media mogul as her “favourite ex-husband.”

Following Turner's death, Fonda shared a heartfelt tribute, describing the profound impact he had on her life.

“He burst into my life — gorgeous, incredibly romantic, a fearless pirate — and I was never the same again,” the actress wrote.

She admitted that, for the first time, being with Turner made her feel genuinely needed and cared for.

“I was needed by him. No one had ever made me feel needed before. And this wasn't just anyone — this was the creator of CNN and Turner Classic Movies, a man who had won the America's Cup in sailing. He lived an extraordinary life, had a brilliant mind and an incredible sense of humour,” Fonda recalled.

“Ted Turner helped me believe in myself. He gave me confidence. I think I did the same for him,” the actress added.

She considered one of Turner's most remarkable qualities to be his ability to show vulnerability openly, despite his reputation as a tough and ambitious businessman.

Fonda did not, however, hide the fact that their relationship was not always easy. She described Turner as the most competitive person she had ever met and admitted that living with him required patience.

“But I've always loved a challenge, and with Ted, it was almost always worth it,” she added.

Despite Fonda's absence from the will, there is no public evidence of any conflict between the former spouses.

Turner made history as the founder of CNN, the first 24-hour news channel, which launched in 1980. His media empire also included TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies.