Brad Maurice Kelley (born 1956) is an American businessman who is the 7th largest landowner in the U.S., with an estimated net worth of US$2.2 billion in 2018. 280,000 acres Sign up for your Modern Farmer Weekly Newsletter. Ed Bass helped build the brand-new $540 million Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, which opened in late October 2019. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 119,000 acres We think of William Randolph Hearst as the newspaper mogul whispering Rosebud to an empty room, but the family fortune started with land. Some love the land so much they end up inside it. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Plans for his land in Wyoming include building billed as one of the largest in the world. 848,571 acres A few people and families own more than 100 million acres of land in the United States. He owns ranches in Texas, New Mexico and Kentucky. 41. His investment in Spaceport America is expected to bring jobs and economic growth to the area. Galt family:262,000 acres in Montana, including the Martinsdale Ranch. 26. When the Suggs relocated their cattle from Texas to Oklahoma, they found buckets of oil under their new land. Today, the Stimson family owns 552,000 acres, primarily in Montana and Oregon. Westervelt heirs: 518,000 acres inAlabama, Mississippi, and Virginia. Waggoner's began expanding his father's ranching interests and established what is known today as the W.T. The Kokernot family's 06 Ranch brand registered in Texas since 1837. 9 Ranch Caprock, N.M. A study found that 31 million acres, or 1.4 per cent of the country's total land mass, is under the control of the private owners, who are noticeably wealthy, white and older. Each year The Land Report publishes a list nations top property owners ranked by the number of acres they own in the United States. The discovery of oil on that ranch propelled Fasken to wealth, and now Fasken Oil & Ranch is a major oil drilling company that has heavily employed fracking technology. D.R. O'Connor, above, continued to expand the land his father, Thomas O'Connor, was awarded in the Battle of San Jacinto. The federal government is the top landowner in New Mexico, controlling over 24 million acres. Land: Ranches and oilfields throughout Texas. This land isn't your land. We can only imagine what the state will look like in the coming years! Background: Red Emmerson is president of Sierra Pacific Industries, a family-run lumber manufacturing business that ranks as California's largest private landowner. 42. Background: Ted Turner founded the Turner Broadcasting System that launched CNN and several other cable successful programs. Land: The Singleton ranches comprise of 29 ranches across California and New Mexico, including the picturesque San Cristobal Ranch outside of Santa Fe. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 155,000 acres The McDonald family's 474,000 acres are spread across Alabama, Florida, and Oklahoma but the majority of the family's land holdings is in Maine. His Crossroads Ag grows corn, canola, sunflowers, sorghum, wheat and cotton, but he recently expanded into New Mexican grasslands for large-scale cow-calf operations. The Faskens have several major properties in West Texas. Whether its leasing land for renewable energy, agriculture, or commercial use, Commissioner Garcia Richard works with landowners. The "9" continues under third- and fourth-generation ownership, exemplifying the ranching heritage and tradition. He now owns and manages spreads in Texas, Montana and Wyoming. Malone made his fortune as a media tycoon, building the company Tele-Communications, Inc, or TCI, and acting as its CEO before selling it to AT&T for $50 billion in 1999. Just as theres a language around buying a car, theres a dialect for selling bull semen. Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke has even more land, coming in at No. 150,000 acres Singleton family: 1.1 million acres in New Mexico and California. Climbed the rankings this year by adding land between Dallas and Waco to his Texas panhandle holdings. Roughly equal to: Six-and-a-half times larger than Detroit. Roughly equal to: A third of the size of New Hampshire. D.R. 24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Background: The J.R. Simplot Company started its fortune in potatoes but diversified over the years to become one of the largest, privately held food companies in the world. The 25 biggest landowners in America own 20 million acres -- nearly 1% of the country -- according to new data from The Land Report. Roughly equal to: 2,500 times the size of Vatican City. Background: Robert Earl Holding's success began in the oil industry where he owns three refineries and bought Sinclair Oil in 1976. In addition, they bring jobs and economic growth with their investments in the aerospace and other industries. Since then, they have been acquiring land. Roughly equal to: Twice the size of the Hawaiin Island of Molokai. The ranch spawned from land that was originally purchased by Captain Richard King in 1853 and subsequently passed down through generations. Buck, who as owner of Tall Timber Trust, one of the largest owners of timberland in Maine, controls 925,00 acres. Roughly equal to: As large as Anchorage, AK. Second-generation president, Allyn Ford (degrees from Stanford, Yale), keeps reforestation and recycling science at the core of his management of Rosenberg Forestry Products. Dont worry, the Hunts dont just own land to raise cattle, breed horses and grow hay, corn, citrus, grains and sugar. No longer #10 with the acquisition of Montanas Broken O Ranch, an inspiring combination of irrigated farming and cattle land envisioned by paint mogul, Benjamin Moore. Bass family:285,000 acres in Texas. Though he resides in New York City, Stefan Soloviev owns over 325,000 acres of land across New Mexico, Kansas, and Texas. Kroenke is married to Ann Walkton Kroenke, an heiress to the Wal-Mart fortune. Many of them inherited land bought cheap at the turn of. 40. 161,093 acres Because if youre going to go softwood sawmill, you want to make it state-of-the-art. The islands ranch closed in 1999, leaving animals to roam freely and almost all residents to leave for other parts of the state. Malone made his fortune as a media tycoon, building the company Tele-Communications, Inc, or TCI, and acting as its CEO before selling it to AT&T for $50 billion in 1999. Who owns the largest ranch in Montana? 400,000 acres Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and are used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Where is the best hunting ranch in California? Theres so much private land, too, with nearly 50 acres for every person in the state. 110,000 acres Lastly, the National Park Service controls 1.9% of New Mexicos land, and the Fish and Wildlife Service owns 1.3%. 150,000 acres Killam family: 277,000 acres, mostly ranches in Texas and Oregon and oil operations in Louisiana, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas. 152,000 acres The former Reebok CEO now owns James Stewarts old ranch in Nevada and has grazing rights to another three-quarter of a million acres. The combined landholdings belonged to former Texas governor, the late Dolph Briscoe Jr. 12. New Mexico, Texas, Florida, and Oregon. 9, owns more than twice as much as Bezos. 1 is John Malone, who can boast being the largest landowner in the US with 2.2 million acres. Some want that land for cattle, others for farming, others to test their reusable space craft (those hobby store model rockets just werent enough, were they Mr. Roughly equal to: Half the size of Rhode Island. Thomas Peterffy:581,000 acres in Florida. 48. New Mexico officials found 1000 emaciated cows on his ranch last May. This hedge fund manager wears his Audubon Medal with pride. The Lees are sheep and cattle ranchers who owe some of their wealth to the discovery of uranium and coal on their property in the western half of the state. Dan and Farris Wilks Who Owns Montana's Largest Ranch? Ira Wines, who works the familys prized Spanish Ranch, doesnt have times for greenhorns. In 1870, Dr. Howell Tyson Lykes gave up the practice of medicine to take over his familys 500 acres in Florida. 278,000 acres Bezoss holdings make him one of the top landowners in the state. He is a cable TV mogul who currently owns the $24 billion company, Liberty Media. 34. Roughly equal to: One-tenth the size of Connecticut. 1. Bezos owns 420,000 acres, much of which is in west Texas. Sandwiched between Flagstaff Arizona and the Grand Canyon, the Babbitt Ranches have a reputation for breeding trophy quarter horses. Collier was the largest landholder in the state at the time of his death. 36. Estimates are based on information from published reports, online databases, tax records, and information provided by various landowners, and include only rural land holdings. Land: Holdings in many states. Background: D.M. The fifty private land owners who own the most land in the US, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and CNN founder Ted Turner, have been revealed in a new investigation. The comments below have not been moderated, By here is a look at how much land the government owns in every state, The Land Report magazines 2018 Land Report, Growing 600lbs of gourmet mushrooms a week, Wisconsin's dairy industry would collapse without them, Here is a look at the richest person in every state, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 730,000 acres 163,800 acres 535,000 acres The online retailing billionaire who founded Amazon and is among the wealthiest people in the world owns 420,000 acres, which is about three times the size of Guam. Among them is Ted Turner, founder of CNN and owner of private land and ranches spanning across New Mexico. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Meet the 10 Largest Land Owners in Montana, Meet the 4 Largest Landowners in New Mexico, Ted Turner Enterprises, Available here: https://www.tedturner.com/turner-ranches/, The Land Report, Available here: https://landreport.com/2016/01/land-report-january-2016-newsletter/, Federal Landowner Report, Available here: https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R42346.pdf. The family's 1.7 million acres of land are primarily spread across Washington, Oregon, and California. 7 to 13 | Nos. 1,250,000 acres Thank them for the shirt on your back. In 2019, D.K. Ah the Koch Brothers. Owners Donald and Doris Fisher co-founded the clothing brand Gap. Land: 770,000 acres of timber across California, Oregon, and Washington. The land office also helps landowners access important resources. Family members used the land to enrich themselves from oil and cattle ranching. At their production sale, the Powell Family promises cows with, a heavily muscled quarter with a thick loin designed for maximum performance. Donald and Doris Fisher co-founded the clothing brand Gap Inc. Roughly equal to: The size of the island of Maui. Dan Hughes, patriarch of the Hughes family, was a wildcatter in Texas. This businessman has ranch holdings in Texas, Florida, and New Mexico. King Ranch heirs: 911,215 acres inTexas. Luke Brite made a name breeding some of the toughest cattle in Texas around the turn of the century. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Doesn't just own CNN he is the largest landowner in New Mexico. 212,985 acres LBJ Library from Austin / public domain License. John Riggs has a modern utopia in mind for his great-grandfathers old ranch. They make money by leasing the state trust land to a multitude of companies. The Bass family fortune, like those held by many of the entries on this list, comes from oil and cattle ranching. Fasken family:279,128 acres in Texas. But who owns the most land? But shes upset local interests. of Ecology, Goldman's Top Economist Says There Are Only Two Scenarios, Bad And Very Bad >. Background: Henry Singleton amassed his wealth in digital technology before purchasing the San Cristobal Ranch in 1986. Forget accusations of slave labor practices at the Fanjuls sugar plantations in the Dominican Republic. Roughly equal to: Three times the size of Guam. Kelley's investment group owns and runs the 762-acre Calumet Farm, which produces Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winners. Broe's Hubble & Green Ranches in New Mexico cover 290,000 acres. Dont over look the kitchen at the familys Pitchfork Ranch. Doesnt just own CNN he is the largest landowner in New Mexico. 179,129 acres 200,000 acres The Hadley family, Anheuser-Busch heirs, own 260,000 acres, including the massive Diamond A Ranch, which makes up a substantial part of New Mexico's southwestern tip. This land is their land. The Barta family, which owes its wealth to its prescription services company, Sav-Rx, now owns one of the largest cattle ranching operations in the state. Family patriarch Sid Richardson once owned oil fields from Texas to Louisiana, but St. Josephs Island of the Gulf Coast of Texas was his prize. The Babbitts are long-time Arizona cattle ranchers who have been in the area since 1886. The Kokernot family's 06 Ranch brand has been registered in the state since 1837. Roughly equal to: Twice as large as Rhode Island. Roughly equal to: Three and a half times the size of Philadelphia. Founded by Thomas Douglas Stimson, the Stimson Lumber Company, which today operates out of the Pacific Northwest, has remained in the family for six generations. Today, the Simplot family oversees a $2.5 billion farming operation and owns over 443,000 acres, largely in southern Idaho. 175,000 acres With plans underway for a major expansion of the aerospace industry, Bezos will no doubt be a major player in the states future. David Fasken, a Canadian lawyer, bought the massive C Ranch from the Texas General Land Office in 1913. The founder of Southern Pine Plantations diversified from timberland in the U.S. South with the purchase of 20,000 acres of mineral rights in East Texas. He also knows his way around the rest of the world. Owners of the oldest continuously operated cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle. The Lydas are Texas cattle ranchers and landowners. Land: Oil and gas divisions throughout the West and Southwest; timber units across Maine, Oklahoma, and the Southeast. The family is in the lumber business. Their holdings outside New Mexico include the Peachtree and Top ranches in John Steinbecks Salinas Valley. Of the many fowls he has sired, the family says, we havent found anything we dont like about them.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 119,500 acres Land: Oilfields and ranchlands throughout Texas. An advertisement VanderSloott took out in Idaho Falls Post Register accused a reporter of bringing personal politics to a report on child molestation in a local Boy Scout troop when the reporter had not made his sexuality public. 13/20 Henry Singleton cofounded the industrial conglomerate Teledyne in 1960, and begin acquiring ranch land in New. Family members have run a long-time lumber business. Robinson & Freed families:300,000 acres in Utah. The land and livestock division has 37 farms and 15 ranches with capacity for 30,000 mother cows. 239,000 acres 1. The Fisher family owns 440,000 acres of land, primarily timberland in northwestern California. The largest landowner in the U.S. is probably not someone you've heard of. 145,000 acres Holland Ware owns over half a million acres of land primarily in Florida and Georgia. All told, Buck owns 925,000 acres. Ted Turner owns one million acres in New Mexico. She does this while also helping to fund public education and other important state institutions. Roughly equal to: Eighty times the size of Los Angeles International Airport. Today, between his fifth, sixth, and seventh generation of descendants, Pingree's heirs own some 830,000 acres mostly in Maine through Seven Islands Land Co., a lumber company. The property is the largest ranch in the state,by Captain Richard King in 1853 and subsequently passed down through generations. What David Pingree purchased from 100 different Maine townships in 1840 is now an ecologically managed forest supplying hardwood floors to the world. Roughly equal to: Twice the size of Badlands National Park. From Ted Turner to Jeff Bezos to the federal government, New Mexico has some of the biggest landowners in the nation. The family behind logging company Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) with land holdings twice the size of Rhode Island. Below are the nuts and bolts of the list along with some extra insights. Family members are mostly cattle ranchers. Roughly equal to: The size of Hong Kong. The vast swaths of property are used for farming, ranching, logging and renewable energy production. Roughly equal to: Two and a half times the size of Phoenix. 1 to 6 | Nos. After his family made a killing in the oil and gas business, Dan Allen Hughes Jr. has attempted to make his name with the purchase Texas hunting land. Zane and Tanya Kiehne own ranches that span seven counties in New Mexico and seven counties in Texas and consists mostly of mountainous terrain that is home to a variety of wildlife. The riches helped Ed Bass build the new $540 million Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and funded the purchase of San Jose Island off the state's Gulf Coast area. Have some feedback for us? Jeff Bezos:420,000 acres in Texas. 40 and owning 285,000 acres equaling one-tenth the size of Connecticut, has made its fortunes from oil and cattle ranching on the land. O'Connor heirs:587,800 acres in Texas. Roughly equal to: The size of Phoenix, Arizona. Background: Former Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe Jr., expanded his holdings when oil and gas were discovered on his ranchland. The company, now known as Westervelt Company, has operations in renewable energy, lumber, and wildlife services. Collier was the largest landholder in the state at the time of his death. 46. The cable billionaire from Denver added two properties in Wellington, the epicenter of South Floridas equestrian community, and an Irish castle with a solid set of stables. John Malone is the largest private landowner in the United States. Background: Holland Ware's fortunes in the timber industry began in the early 50s with his first purchase of 100 acres for $10 when he was 15 years old. Barta family:286,000 acres in Nebraska. Brad Kelley's investment group purchased the 762-acre Calumet Farm, a thoroughbred horse breeding and training facility in Kentucky, in 2012. 8. The family still owns most of that property. 32 - New York Columbia University owns approximately 209 properties, which collectively account to make it the largest landowner in New York. To determine the largest landowners in the United States, 24/7 Wall St . His Mare Pasture development will integrate high-end commercial and residential development with vineyards, orchards, gardens, greenhouses and plenty of land for grass-fed beef. Background: The family business, Irving Woodlands, has roots dating back to 1882 when James D. Irving founded a company that included a sawmill, gristmill, lumber business and farms. Koch Ranches Inc. specializes in high-quality grass-fed beef. Sumary of Meet the 3 Largest Landowners in New Mexico:New Mexico top landowners are shaping the future of this unique state, making it a mind-blowing place to live, work, and play.You could plan the ultimate fishing trip or hike in the state stunning National Parks.There so much private land, too, with nearly 50 acres for every person in the state.Learn more about the scenic state of New . 8. 33 - North Carolina Clayton was set to bring his cowboy image to the Texas governorship until a set of gaffs derailed the campaign in 1990. (If youve made it to #81, that joke is especially for you. 46 withabout 275,000 acres in New Mexico. He operates a ranch and children's summer camp. Most of Ware's holdings are controlled by the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation, which helps several causes, including animal welfare. 247,000 acres The Butler Heirs have partnered with government and nonprofits to help ensure their land is healthy, productive, and beautiful far into the future. The land conservancy act will protect more than 500 species of vertebrates. Its the fifth-largest in the nation. 141,700 acres The activities help residents experience the natural world. Boyd's Frying Pan Ranch was originally made up of 95 sections in the Texas Panhandle, which was one of the first areas to test out barbed-wire fencing over 130 years ago. Mmmm-mm! He also liked alliteration. 100,000 acres He founded the Commonwealth Brands tobacco company in 1991 and sold the company in 2001 to Houchens Industries for US$1 billion. To date, the clan has produced one governor: Dolph Briscoe Jr, who served two terms for the Lone Star State. Much of the land is used for grazing by 50,000 head of buffalo, the largest herd of bison in the world. Roughly equal to: Seven times the size of Philadelphia. In other words, stitching together all the land listed here gets you something about the size of Connecticut. The Irving family is the sixth largest private landholder in the United States. Ranches in Wyoming and Montana; ski resorts in Utah and Idaho; six other luxury hotels and resorts across the country, including The Grand American Hotel in Salt Lake City. Roughly equal to: Three times the size of Los Angeles. A forest products firm with Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests in California, Oregon and West Virginia California, Oregon, West Virginia, and one of the largest private holdings in Pennsylvania. The type of resources that help them manage their land responsibly and sustainably. New Mexico is known for its rugged terrain, ancient history, and connections to popular culture. Bezos has also invested millions of dollars into the development of Spaceport America. The Lykes heirs own in Florida a 337,000 acre ranch, which includes sugar cane and cattle operations, as well as a 264,555 acre ranch in west Texas. 625,000 acres Baron Collier, an advertising executive who developed land and infrastructure in southern Florida, had been largest landholder in the state at the time of his death. After oil was discovered on their ranch in the 1940s, the Faskens spread across the Southwest. St. Louis businessman Leo Drey began making sizable donations of Missouri forest land to the non-profit in the 1960s. Will Moursund runs the ranches now, but father A.W. John Malone:2.2 million acres inMaine, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. 23:50 GMT 25 Nov 2019 Peterffy made a fortune as a successful investor and innovator on Wall Street. This ranching family owns some of the oldest operating ranch land in the country. The brothers started buying up Texas ranch land in 1923 and the modern day Beggs still manage much of it. Their Florida rice and sugar empire built the largest biomass power plant in the country. Zane & Tanya Kiehne:345,000 acres in New Mexico and Texas. Collier family: 280,000 acres, primarily in Collier County, Florida. Now, Theyre Spurring Tourism. Oil and drilling profits helped him buy a sportsmans paradise in the Big Bend area of Far West Texas. 45. 230,000 acres 153,000 acres Claims their ranch holdings are just as impressive as their highly-productive oil fields. Then there's the Killiams at No. CNN founder Ted Turner may own more land in New Mexico than his friend and longtime business partner John Malone who bought the 290,100-acre Bell Ranch in northeastern New Mexico in 2010, but . 1,860,000 acres Shannon Kizer has 302,000 acres across five states: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The oil and gas business man developed a love for land on his grandparents farm. 500,000 acres 30. Remember the great railroad and cattle barons of the 19th century? His Colorados Great Western Industrial Park became a major source of the states green job growth in 2008. Brothers Farris and Dan Wilks started off with Frac Tech, a natural gas extraction company in 2002, and sold it for $3.5 billion in 2011. Land: Timberland throughout Oregon and California. 422,164 acres Hamer family:600,000 acres in West Virginia. Stan Kroenke: 1.4 million acres in Montana and Wyoming. Roughly equal to: Half the size of Lake Ontario. The Austin-based family partnership climbed the rankings with a couple of add-ons to their New Mexico and Texas ranches. Roughly equal to: Ten and a half times the size of Hilton Head Island, SC. 160,000 acres 29. 16. Doesnt run nearly the profile of her father, Wilard Garvey, who bought the ranch. Holland Ware:534,900 acres in Florida and Georgia. Before he passed away last year, an employee gave Robert Earl Holding a plaque that echoed his credo: All I want is the land next to mine. That land includes ski resorts in Utah and a whole lot of real estate in Salt Lake City, all of which he built from a small stake in a Wyoming truck stop. These private individuals and entities significantly impact the lands environment and culture. He made sure the Land 100 knew he managed to add three acres to his tally this year. 2,200,000 acres John Malone has 2.2 million acres, mostly in four. His purchase of the enormous Corn Ranch in West Texas was part nostalgia and part business. The amount of land owned by the federal government has stayed steady since 1990, with a slight decline of -0.3%. Animals, plants, survival tips, and more. Six of the nation's top ten largest individual landowners have put their land into conservation easements (in bold). Do fence them in. 113,532 acres His purchase of the Sierra Grande Lodge and Spa brings tourists closer to two of his landmark properties and, ya know, space. The Nunleys are a ranching family particularly proud of their genetics program around Santa Gertrudis Cattle and the size of the deer on their Texas ranches. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.