Turner Broadcasting System and CNN Founder Ted Turner was hospitalized in South America early Friday morning, Turner's spokesperson told CNN.

Phillip Evans said Turner was in an Argentine hospital "for observation."

"It is our policy not to comment on his personal health," Evans said.

Telam, an Argentina-run news agency, reported that Turner was taken to the lakeside city of Bariloche, which is near the Chilean border and about 940 miles southwest of Buenos Aires.

The Associated Press learned the name of the clinic was the San Carlos Sanatorium, which was also near one of the billionaire's Argentina ranches in the Patagonia region.

The clinic's spokesperson, Paula Redondo, told Telam that the 75-year-old arrived at around 4 a.m. because he was suffering from acute abdominal pain.

Telam reported that Turner was diagnosed with appendicitis and that doctors recommended surgery for the philanthropist.

Turner was transported about four hours later to the Buenos Aires hospital Instituto Argentino de Diagnostico for the operation, according to AP.

AP's unnamed source told the wire service that Turner's cohorts were instructed not to give any information regarding his condition.

According to AP, Turner has 14 ranches in the U.S. and three in Argentina where he hosts private expeditions for fishing and hunting. One of his Argentine ranches, "La Primavera," is 11,000 acres and runs along the Traful River in Nahuel Huapi National Park.

Turner is known for his generous philanthropy work as he was credited for donating $1 billion to the United Nations in 1997. He also owns a chain of restaurants -- Ted's Montana Grill -- and RT Solar, a renewable energy company.

Time Warner bought Turner Broadcasting from Turner in 1996, which was launched in 1980 and included numerous networks such as TBS, TNT, HLN, TCM and Cartoon Network.

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