Ted Turner sells SC island to state for $4.9M, well below appraised value

Media mogul Ted Turner has sold St. Phillips Island, a 4,680-acre property in South Carolina, to the state government for $4.9 million, significantly below its appraised market value. Turner originally purchased the island in 1979 with the intention of protecting it from commercial development. Over the decades, he preserved the island in its natural state, keeping its ecosystem largely undisturbed. The island will now be integrated into South Carolina's state park system, with a primary focus on environmental conservation. Public access will be restricted, though the site will support educational initiatives and eco-tourism activities.