Ownership at the top is highly concentrated. The four largest landowners each control at least 2 million acres, and together they hold roughly 9.3 million acres. Even the 25th-ranked owner, the Fisher family, controls approximately 440,000 acres, an area larger than many U.S. counties.
Stan Kroenke’s rise to the top spot marks the biggest shift in the latest rankings. The sports and real estate billionaire increased his holdings to 2.7 million acres after acquiring nearly one million additional acres in New Mexico, the largest U.S. land transaction in more than a decade.
His portfolio includes ranches across the American West in addition to ownership stakes in the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Avalanche, among other sports franchises. His holdings now span roughly 4,200 square miles.
Timber, Ranching, and Conservation Dominate the List
Despite their diverse backgrounds, many of America’s largest landowners generate value from similar land uses.
The Emmerson family, ranked second with 2.44 million acres, built its holdings through Sierra Pacific Industries, America’s largest private timber company. Meanwhile, John Malone, who ranks third with 2.2 million acres, has increasingly focused on conservation initiatives, sustainable agriculture, and land stewardship. Ted Turner, fourth with 2 million acres, is widely known for combining ranching operations with one of North America’s largest private bison conservation efforts.
Further down the ranking, several names reflect multigenerational landownership. The King Ranch heirs, Pingree heirs, Cullen heirs, and Briscoe family all trace significant portions of their holdings to historic ranching, timber, and energy fortunes built over decades or even centuries.
The list also includes modern entrepreneurs such as Subway co-founder Peter Buck and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Despite being one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, Bezos ranks just 21st with roughly 462,000 acres.
Why Private Land Ownership Matters
Private land ownership plays a central role in how America’s landscapes are managed. According to the USDA, roughly 70% of the nation’s land is privately owned, making private landowners critical partners in conservation, agriculture, forestry, and wildlife management.
When a country has more private land than public land, decisions about resource management and habitat protection often depend on individual owners rather than government agencies. Large landowners can therefore have an outsized influence on environmental outcomes, particularly when land remains dedicated to working forests, ranches, or conservation easements.
Foreign ownership of U.S. land is another closely watched topic. Foreign entities own tens of millions of acres nationwide, with Canadian entities historically leading foreign ownership of U.S. land, and Chinese entities holding roughly 1% of foreign-owned U.S. acreage. However, the vast majority of acreage on this ranking remains held by U.S.-based individuals and families.
