For Turner, now 61 and worth more than $9 billion, high finance may have to be his solitary amusement in the near future: he and wife, Jane Fonda, split early this year. His woes could grow even worse if AOL stock keeps falling, perhaps putting the deal in jeopardy. But barring that, Turner may be looking for new worlds to conquer. Doing what? Hard to say. Turner has long been an unpredictable mogul. When he sold his empire to Time Warner in 1996, many observers expected him to joust for power with chief executive officer Gerald Levin; instead, he’s been docile and supportive. Turner insists we’ll see more of the same. “I’m in a unique position,” he told NEWSWEEK. “I don’t think there’s anybody who’s had as much net worth as me working for someone else.” He vows to stick around “as long as I can make a contribution.” Some observers say that may not be long. “Ted is not going to sit around being a fifth wheel at AOL Time Warner and end his career there,” says Porter Bibb, Turner’s biographer. Bibb notes that Turner usually has a bold idea–like donating $1 billion to the United Nations–every three to five years. What might be next? Turner has long coveted a TV network, and rumors of an interest in NBC resurfaced last week. But beyond that, two words: buffalo burgers. As the owner of the world’s largest herd, Turner reportedly dreams of a deal to supply McDonald’s. It sounds farfetched. But for America’s most eccentric billionaire, it’s just one more excellent adventure.
