The Tale of Ted Turner and the Tasmanian Tiger
May 7, 2026
Photo: Public Domain
Among the countless colorful stories from the remarkable life of trailblazing media mogul Ted Turner, who passed away on Wednesday, is that of the rather sizeable reward he once offered to anyone who could prove that the legendary Tasmanian Tiger still existed. The odd bounty came about back in December of 1983, when the CNN founder was in the Tasmanian capital of Hobart for a yacht race. According to a contemporaneous news article, during a visit to one of the city's museums, Turner saw an exhibit on the declared extinct Tasmanian Tiger, or thylacine, and the debate surrounding its existence.
More on this very cool story at the Coast to Coast AM website.