1,860,000 acres When your ranch surrounds a For Union National Monument in Northern New Mexico, you have to think slightly beyond raising cattle. The 90-year-old CEO of Dole Food Company plans to live to 125 on what the The New York Times calls a diet of messianic correctness that can, and will, ward off major disease in a 2011 magazine piece. Williams made the mistake of likening rape to bad weather (If its inevitable, just relax and enjoy it) and faced accusations of going to a Mexican brothel called the Chicken Ranch while in college. Thank them for the shirt on your back. Background: The sports mogul who got his start in real estate just became the majority owner of the St. Louis Rams. 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. Crosby Land and Trust which was once a chemicals company is hoping to turn the forests of the American South into biofuels as well as lumber. The real estate mogul is also owner of the Los Angeles Rams and married toAnn Walkton Kroenke, an heiress to the Wal-Mart fortune. Roughly equal to: 2,500 times the size of Vatican City. Background: Joseph M. Huber's success as a sales agent for his family's pigments and manufacturing business back in the late 1800s grew into a diversified corporation that spans many industries from paper and energy to plastics and construction. 189,000 acres In other words, stitching together all the land listed here gets you something about the size of Connecticut. Vermejo Park Ranch, located in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, is a stunning 560,000-acre property. 1. Roughly equal to: Twice the size of Singapore. Turner's land is utilized by greater than 50,000 head of buffalo for grazing - the biggest non-public herd of bison on the earth. The foundation now protects land all across the Ozarks. 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. With plans underway for a major expansion of the aerospace industry, Bezos will no doubt be a major player in the states future. 6. 150,000 acres 31. The family behind logging company Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) with land holdings twice the size of Rhode Island. New Mexicos top landowners are shaping the future of this unique state, making it an exciting place to live, work, and play. 18. Background: After Mark Reed married the daughter of Sol Simpson at the turn of the century, the Reed family continues to operate the privately owned Simpson Investment Company that is one of the oldest forest products companies in the Pacific Northwest. CNN founder Ted Turner owns 2 million acres of land largely in New Mexico, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Georgia. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Both Zane and Tanya were born into ranching families. (Translation for La Escalera: The Ladder.) His space firm Blue Origin uses it to test. In addition, they bring jobs and economic growth with their investments in the aerospace and other industries. This land isn't your land. 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. 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. St. Louis businessman Leo Drey began making sizable donations of Missouri forest land to the non-profit in the 1960s. Some love the land so much they end up inside it. The decrease is a result of homesteading and land grants. For a basic sense of how the world of ultra-massive real estate has changed, heres one fact: Between 2012 and 2013, the top 100 added 700,000 acres to their collective portfolios, bringing their total to two percent of the U.S. land mass. The J.R. Simplot Company is one of the largest agribusinesses in the country, but per their website and despite that profit margin, their company is as small as a single farmer. With holdings as far as New Zealand, the Idaho-based company is a little larger than a single farm. Collins family:311,395 acres in Northern California and western Pennsylvania. Martin family: 570,000 acres in Louisiana. 244,332 acres 560,000 acres A third generation now steers the Monahan Cattle Co. in Nebraska. 100,000 acres 111,977 acres 200,000 acres He owns Sierra Grande Lodge and Spa, located close to Richard Bransons Spaceport America. John Irwin II bought the historic O RO Ranch in the late 70s for its fidelity to the past. Family members are mostly sheep and cattle ranchers who owe some of their wealth to the discovery of uranium and coal on their property. Crowbar Beggs for getting them to the list. Her goal is to ensure they receive fair market value. 24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Roughly equal to: Twice the size of the Hawaiin Island of Molokai. A.S. Gages headquarters is now a high end hotel in Marathon, Texas, but it once centered more than half a million acres of grazing lands. McDonald family: 474,000 acres in Alabama, Florida, and Oklahoma but the majority of the family's land holdings are in Maine. 1. The comments below have not been moderated, By Turns out they still own a huge part of the country. 150,000 acres John Riggs has a modern utopia in mind for his great-grandfathers old ranch. Today, his family owns some 280,000 acres, primarily in Collier County, which is named after him. Background: The Ford familys Roseburg Forest Products had its origins in 1936 when the Roseburg Lumber Company was founded by owner Kenneth Ford. . His book, A Forest for the Trees, documents the history of Maines Baskahegan Watershed from resettlement to 1982. Owns Amazon and The Washington Post, but few know Silicon Valleys leading mind spent summers on his grandfathers ranch. I think the Longyear family and Longyear Heirs out of Marquette MI own at least 100,000 acres. And then there are the individuals, including Shannon Kizer, who owns 302,000 acres in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. 14 to 21 | Nos. He is now buried somewhere on the premises. 17. As of 2014, Kelley's business interests include Calumet Farm, NC2 Media and the Center for Innovation and . Its his 18,000-acre Rock Springs Ranch at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains). The move earned a serious wag of the finger from MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. 25. 230,000 acres Roughly equal to: One-quarter the size of Delaware. The family still operates two ranches in Texas, but no word on what kind of fencing they use. With over 77 million acres of land, theres plenty of room for people and nature to coexist. She runs the popular Pioneer Woman blog under the slogan, Plowing through life in the country one calf nut at a time. Which probably does not make her blog, like, particularly popular with calves. Errol Galt is the former Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Game commissioner. , updated Robinson & Freed families:300,000 acres in Utah. Many of them inherited land bought cheap at the turn of the century. The family's 1.1 million acres of land also includes land in California. Background: W.T. To date, the clan has produced one governor: Dolph Briscoe Jr, who served two terms for the Lone Star State. Its the fifth-largest in the nation. The 25 biggest landowners in America own 20 million acres -- nearly 1% of the country -- according to new data from The Land Report. Since then, they have been acquiring land. 140,000 acres You could spend weeks exploring the property. Family members have had a long-time timber business. These private individuals and entities significantly impact the lands environment and culture. Today, his family owns some 280,000 acres, primarily in Collier County, which is named after him. A recent deal to take Dole private makes Murdock the sole owner of 25,000 acres in Hawaii. 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. The brothers started buying up Texas ranch land in 1923 and the modern day Beggs still manage much of it. Barta family:286,000 acres in Nebraska. The vast majority of the land held by the individuals and families on this list is located in states west of the Mississippi River. Maybe deer and the antelope can play with Angus steers. 145,000 acres 37. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos owns 290,000 acres of land in New Mexico. JOHN MALONE: 2.2 million acres in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Maine . John Malone is the largest private landowner in the United States. 16:01 GMT 26 Nov 2019. Here's how it breaks down between each division: Shannon Kizer has 302,000 acres across five states: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The family still owns most of that property. Background: Toronto attorney David Fasken started buying land in Texas in 1913. The family raises cattle and grows citrus. Malone's 2.2 million acres are largely located in Maine, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming and include profitable cattle ranches. Roughly equal to: Three times the size of Los Angeles. There is alsoAnne Marion who owns 275,000 acres in Texas, including the famous 6666, or "Four Sixes" cattle ranch in the Southern Panhandle, which is close to 150 years old. 213,730 acres Here is a look at the richest person in every state. Background: Phillip Anschutz's company has investments in energy exploration, telecommunications and agribusiness. Ted Turner:2.0 million acres in New Mexico, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Georgia. Waggoner's began expanding his father's ranching interests and established what is known today as the W.T. The land and livestock division has 37 farms and 15 ranches with capacity for 30,000 mother cows. 290,000 acres Stimson family:552,000 acres in Montana and Oregon. Waggoner Estate claims to be the largest Texas ranch under one fence. Westervelt's heirs own over half a million acres across Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia. 110,000 acres At the same time they strive to help maximize potential revenue. Land: Holdings in many states. . In 1864, great-great-grandmother Elizabeth Sinclair bought Niihau, the Forbidden Island of Hawaii, for $10,000 in gold from King Kamehameha V. Since, the family has honored the islands traditional culture, but not always to commercial success. Malone bought the 290,000- acre Bell Ranch in New Mexico in 2010 for a reported $65 million. Lucien Bonaparte Maxwell (September 14, 1818 - July 25, 1875) was a mountain man, rancher, scout, and farmer who at one point owned more than 1,700,000 acres (6,900 km 2).Along with Thomas Catron and Ted Turner, Maxwell was one of the largest private landowners in United States history. Forget accusations of slave labor practices at the Fanjuls sugar plantations in the Dominican Republic. Background: Red Emmerson is president of Sierra Pacific Industries, a family-run lumber manufacturing business that ranks as California's largest private landowner. Roughly equal to: Three times the size of Guam. Roughly equal to: Two-and-a-half times larger than Indianapolis. The Martin family, owners of the nearly 100 year old RoyOMartin Lumber Company, have over half a million acre of land, largely in Louisiana. two main ranches, the 6666 Ranch near Guthrie and the Dixon Creek Ranch near Panhandle, total 275,000 acres. 144,580 acres 130,000 acres Claims their ranch holdings are just as impressive as their highly-productive oil fields. 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. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY. John Malone is the largest private landowner in the United States. 7. The land has short grasses, alpine tundra mountains, and more. He also knows his way around the rest of the world. Hadley family: 260,000 acres including the huge Diamond A Ranch, which takes up a good part of New Mexico's southwestern tip. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke has even more land, coming in at No. From ranchers who have owned land for generations to newcomer billionaires splashing the cash,. 317,677 acres Father George Hearst hit silver after coming to California as a 49er and expanded into minerals and ranching. In 1916, Joe Lane established the 9 Ranch, headquarters for his far-flung operations in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. Malone Mitchell runs Longfellow Ranches, a 500 square mile hunting preserve located in West Texas. Richard Bransons spaceport is just a quick drive away. D.R. The 25 biggest landowners in America own 20 million acres -- nearly 1% of the country -- according to new data from The Land Report. 280,000 acres Much of Turner's land is used as grazing land for over 50,000 head of buffalo the largest private herd of bison in the world. Their properties include the massive La Escalera ranch in far West Texas. And it only gets bigger from there for several wealthy families. Roughly equal to: The size of Phoenix, Arizona. 28 to 35 | Nos. O'Connor, above, continued to expand the land his father, Thomas O'Connor, was awarded in the Battle of San Jacinto. Land: Ranchlands and oilfields throughout Texas. The combined landholdings belonged to former Texas governor, the late Dolph Briscoe Jr. 12. Their land includes the 190,000 acre Sunlight Ranch in Montana, just outside of Yellowstone National Park. Holding family:395,030 acres in Montana. 278,000 acres Bezos is cofounder of Amazon. Horizontal drilling.). 40. Thomas Peterffy arrived in the United States as a refugee from Hungary in 1965. In 2019, D.K. The family runs 10,000 cattle on 475,000 acres along the Montana-Wyoming state line. Background: The main cash cow for King Ranch remains ranching and farming but it has also expanded into publishing, retail and eco-tourism. Largest Landowners by State 2023 Utah 33,000,000 Alaska 12,500,000 California 1,900,000 Maine 1,250,000 Kentucky 1,130,000 New Mexico 1,000,000 Washington 900,000 Texas 825,000 Montana 765,000 Arizona 750,000 Largest Landowners by State 2023 Largest Landowners by State 2023 Background: Ted Turner founded the Turner Broadcasting System that launched CNN and several other cable successful programs. Fasken family:279,128 acres in Texas. Nuf said. Today, the familys private holdings in Texas and Florida make up one of the largest cattle operations in the country. Thank you for reading! Not surprisingly, many of the people on this list rank among the wealthiest Americans. Roughly equal to: The size of Prince Edward Island. Then there's the Killiams at No. According the company, it turns out that Frac Techs specialty-hydraulic fracturing is one of the two drivers powering the U.S. energy renaissance. Roughly equal to: Two and a half times the size of Phoenix. Peterffy made a fortune as a successful investor and innovator on Wall Street. Both the Family's 06 Ranch and Leoncita Cattle Company Ranch are in West Texas. 100,000 acres His aerospace firm Blue Origin uses the land to test space vehicles. Land: Ranches and oilfields throughout Texas. Dont over look the kitchen at the familys Pitchfork Ranch. 239,000 acres I said, Sometimes Ill wear everything I own. . Family members are farmers and descendants of, Mom who lost both sons to fentanyl blasts laughing Biden, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Six of the nation's top ten largest individual landowners have put their land into conservation easements (in bold). 170,000 acres The most common exceptions to this rule are parcels located in Maine and Florida. Shannon Kizer: 302,000 acres inArizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. From Ted Turner to Jeff Bezos to the federal government, New Mexico has some of the biggest landowners in the nation. Today, the Simplot family oversees a $2.5 billion farming operation and owns over 443,000 acres, largely in southern Idaho. Roughly equal to: The size of Oklahoma City. Briscoe heirs:640,000 acres in Texas. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Reed family:1.7 million acresWashington, Oregon, and California. He uses the land to test reusable space vehicles. 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. Holland Ware owns over half a million acres of land primarily in Florida and Georgia. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The largest landowner in the U.S. is probably not someone you've heard of. 26. The late Truman Collins was a lumberman who became the largest private landholder in Pennsylvania before his death in 1914. Anne Marion: 275,000 acres in Texas, including the famous 6666, or "Four Sixes" cattle ranch in the Southern Panhandle, which is close to 150 years old. Why Dont American Farmers Embrace Peasant Farming? Roughly equal to: The size of Los Angeles. Florida land developers who were key in the creation of Big Cyprus National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, and numerous country clubs built around nature preserves. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Another logging family with the heart of a tree hugger. Among the soccer teams, railroads, movie theaters and newspaper, the Denver billionaire has enough land for what will be one of the largest wind farms in the country. His Anschutz Entertainment Group is also the worlds largest owner and operator of sports and entertainment venues. Background: Gerald Lyda's success in construction and land development in the 70s allowed him to return to ranching and amass over 900,000 acres within his lifetime. as well as other partner offers and accept our.