Who actually owns the most land in the U.S. right now

Land ownership is one of those things most people don’t think about unless they’re buying a few acres themselves. But the scale some private owners are operating on is hard to wrap your head around—millions of acres in some cases.

We’re talking ranches, timberland, and investment properties across multiple states. If you’ve ever wondered who actually holds the most land in America, here are the top names right now, based on verified reports and current rankings.

John Malone owns over 2.2 million acres

According to The Land Report, John Malone is the largest individual landowner in the United States, with more than 2.2 million acres under his name. His holdings include timberland and ranches in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Maine. Malone made his fortune in cable as the former chairman of Liberty Media. He’s focused on both investment value and conservation, and his land strategy is widely viewed as long-term and intentional.

Ted Turner holds more than 2 million acres

Media mogul Ted Turner ranks second, owning approximately 2 million acres across Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Nebraska, as stated by Turner Enterprises and confirmed in The Land Report. He uses much of this land for bison conservation and environmental projects. Turner was one of the first high-profile figures to combine large-scale land ownership with conservation goals, and his ranches are still in full operation today.

The Emmerson family owns over 2.4 million acres

The 2023 Land Report 100 states that the Emmerson family owns over 2.4 million acres, making them the largest private landowners in the U.S. as a family. Their company, Sierra Pacific Industries, manages the land, most of which is in California, Oregon, and Washington. It’s used primarily for timber harvesting, and they’re also one of the biggest wood product manufacturers in the country.

The Reed family owns 1.7 million acres of timberland

The Reed family, according to The Land Report, holds 1.7 million acres of land through their company Green Diamond Resource Company. Their properties stretch across Oregon, Washington, and California, with most of it being actively managed forestland. The family has been involved in timber and conservation for generations, and their holdings remain among the largest on the West Coast.

Stan Kroenke owns more than 1.6 million acres

Forbes reports that Stan Kroenke, billionaire sports team owner and rancher, controls more than 1.6 million acres of land across the United States. His holdings include Q Creek Ranch in Wyoming, which spans 560,000 acres, and the historic Waggoner Ranch in Texas, which he purchased in 2016. According to The Land Report, he uses the land for cattle, hunting, and conservation projects.

The Irving family controls over 1.2 million acres in Maine

According to The Land Report and CBC News, the Irving family, through their company J.D. Irving, Ltd., owns over 1.2 million acres of forestland in Maine. While based in Canada, the family’s U.S. timber holdings are significant and include some of the most productive land in the Northeast. Most of their property is managed for timber production under strict environmental guidelines.

Peter Buck’s foundation owns over 1.2 million acres

Bangor Daily News reports that the Peter & Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation currently controls more than 1.2 million acres of timberland in Maine. Subway co-founder Peter Buck quietly accumulated this land before his death in 2021. According to The Land Report, his holdings made him one of the largest landowners in New England. Since his passing, the land has been held by the foundation for conservation and long-term stewardship.

The Fasken family owns over 1 million acres in Texas

According to Texas Monthly and The Land Report, the Fasken family owns over 1 million acres in West Texas, much of it dedicated to oil, gas, and ranching operations. Their holdings date back to the early 20th century and continue to play a major role in Texas’s private land landscape. The Faskens keep a low profile, but their name is widely recognized in ranching and energy circles.

Taylor Sheridan’s group owns the 6666 Ranch in Texas

In 2022, Fort Worth Star-Telegram confirmed that Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, along with a group of investors, purchased the 6666 Ranch in Texas, which totals around 266,000 acres. The ranch is still operational, running cattle and hosting film productions for Sheridan’s shows. According to The Land Report, it was one of the most high-profile land sales in recent Texas history.

The Drummond family holds over 430,000 acres in Oklahoma

The Land Report places the Drummond family at number 23 on its list of America’s largest landowners, with around 433,000 acres in Oklahoma. Their land is used primarily for cattle grazing and agricultural leases. According to USDA payment data compiled by EWG, the Drummonds have also received millions in conservation and grazing subsidies over the years. Ree Drummond may have brought the family name into the spotlight, but the ranching business behind it has deep roots.

Sources

• The Land Report 100: 2023 Edition
  https://landreport.com
  (Annual ranking of America’s largest landowners, including individuals, families, and foundations)
• Forbes: Meet The Billionaires Who Own America’s Land
  https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/
  (Coverage of land ownership trends among wealthy individuals and families)
• Turner Enterprises, Inc.
  https://www.tedturner.com/turner-enterprises/
  (Official site detailing Ted Turner’s land holdings and conservation work)
• Sierra Pacific Industries
  https://spi-ind.com
  (Family-owned timber company managing the Emmersons’ land)
• Green Diamond Resource Company
  https://greendiamond.com
  (Official site detailing the Reed family’s forestry and land stewardship)
• Texas Monthly: The New West Texas Land Barons
  https://www.texasmonthly.com
  (Covers Fasken family’s land legacy and oil operations)
• CBC News: Irving Family Forestry Holdings
  https://www.cbc.ca
  (Reports on J.D. Irving’s timberland in Maine and New Brunswick)
• Bangor Daily News: Peter Buck Foundation Land Ownership
  https://www.bangordailynews.com
  (Covers Peter Buck’s Maine land transfers to his foundation)
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Four Sixes Ranch Sale
  https://www.star-telegram.com
  (Covers Taylor Sheridan’s purchase of the 6666 Ranch)
• Environmental Working Group (EWG) Farm Subsidy Database
  https://farm.ewg.org
  (Breakdown of USDA payments received by the Drummond family and other landowners)

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.