Inside Jane Fonda And Ted Turner’s 10-Year Marriage Amid The Actress’s Tribute To The Media Mogul

Ted Turner recently passed away on May 6, 2026. The well-known television producer was battling Lewy Body dementia for a long time, which eventually led to his demise. Outside the media mogul’s career on the small screen, Ted’s personal life also created headlines for different reasons, specifically his marriage to actress and activist, Jane Fonda, from 1991 to 2001.

While social media platforms were flooded with tributes, Jane also expressed her grief through an Instagram post on May 7, 2026. The post has turned the spotlight on Jane and Ted’s marriage, which lasted for ten years. Keep reading to know more about their love story!

Ted Turner and Jane Fonda’s romance started a year before they tied the knot

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Jane Fonda was married twice before she tied the knot with Ted Turner. Her first marriage was to Roger Vadim from 1965 to 1973. Notably, she was married to Tom Hayden when she first met Ted Turner in 1990. While the pair’s romance started in the same year, Jane opened up on how things took a different turn for her and Ted as she spoke to PEOPLE. Jane said at that time that Ted was the first person to approach her for dating after getting her contact number.

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Furthermore, Ted’s friend, Jimmy Carter, once revealed during a conversation with CNN that he used to go fishing with Turner frequently. Jimmy recalled that Ted told him that he was planning to ask Jane for a date. Carter addressed the same by saying:

“He and I were both fishing for bass, and he had told me that he had just heard that Jane Fonda was going to get a divorce from her husband. And he was thinking about asking her for a date.”

Ted Turner and Jane Fonda’s first call details were revealed in a documentary

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Back in 2013, CNN aired a documentary titled Ted Turner: The Maverick Man. The show grabbed a lot of attention as it revealed the details of the first conversation between Ted and Jane on the phone. Jane recalled that Ted started by asking her if the news of her divorce was true. While Fonda confirmed it, Turner asked her if they could go out. Turner said in the documentary that Jane was initially not ready for the same. Jane revealed how she responded and said:

“I said I’m actually in the middle of a nervous breakdown. Call me in six months. I thought, this guy is crazy, this is not what I want to hear right now.”

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Ted Turner said that he got in touch with Jane Fonda after the exact time period, and this time, the latter was ready to go for dinner. Jane disclosed that she and Ted went to a ranch in Montana. Moreover, the duo stayed at a cabin owned by the ranch manager. Jane revealed the circumstances in which she developed feelings for Ted and said:

“As we were driving around and getting lost, he looked up and way in the distance was a silhouette of a bird flying. I don’t remember what kind it was, but he knew it. He knew exactly what the bird was by the way it flew, and he knew its nesting patterns. And I thought I could fall in love with this man.”

Ted Turner and Jane Fonda’s relationship suffered from various problems

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Ted Turner and Jane Fonda exchanged vows in a wedding ceremony organised in Florida in 1991. However, the marriage started facing troubles for certain reasons. One of them was Jane’s decision to become a Christian. Ted later clarified in his memoir that the issue was linked to the fact that he and Fonda did not have a conversation about it before the latter made her decision.

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The problems initially did not impact the relationship. But Jane once claimed in an interview that she was having different thoughts about the marriage. She said that she could hear a voice telling her that she might regret her decision to continue staying with Ted. Jane further stated:

“Ted and I were running into marital problems and I thought I’m gonna leave him. I was terrified. I was 62 years old and I hadn’t worked in like 15 years and I had no career and I had one angel on this shoulder saying to me, ‘Come on, Fonda. He’s cute, he’s rich, he can take care of you, he’s fun.’”

Ted Turner and Jane Fonda confirmed their split in a statement

Ted Turner and Jane Fonda confirmed their split in a statement in 2000. The duo said that they were in a situation where they needed some time for themselves. In 2001, Jane revealed that the marriage was over while she filed for divorce. However, the pair continued to share a close friendship. Ted and Jane were the co-founders of the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential years ago. While attending the 30th annual EmPower Party and gala event for the organisation in 2025, Jane opened up on Ted’s support and said:

“Had I not been with Ted, this was something, had he not stood by me with his love and support, we never would have survived. Ted’s not here, but he is here in my heart and I know he is here in a lot of our hearts.”

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In her recent tribute to Ted Turner, Jane Fonda praised him for many things, including making her a confident individual. Jane wrote that Turner helped her to learn more about nature, wildlife, hunting, and more. She continued by saying:

“Ted was supremely strategic. It was likely innate, but he studied the Classics in college, knew about the Peleponesian War inside and out and the strategies used by Alexander the Great and even Genghis Khan. And sailing big boats as he did further honed those strategic talents which he then brought into his businesses to much success. He could see around corners for sure.”

Photo credit: Jerry Fitzgerald/Disney

What are your thoughts about Jane Fonda and Ted Turner’s relationship over the years? Let us know.

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