Land ownership in Texas entails a unique blend of historical context, legal frameworks, and evolving market dynamics. As one of the largest states in the United States, Texas boasts vast and varied landscapes, offering opportunities for residential, agricultural, and commercial endeavors. The state also has favorable business policies, which has led to some of the largest companies in the country moving their headquarters to Texas. In this resource, we'll explore the largest landowners in Texas and highlight companies that are purchasing land in Texas.
Land Ownership in Texas
Some of the largest landowners in the United States own land in Texas. According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, over 93% of the land in Texas is privately owned, but many companies also own large amounts of land in Texas. The vast majority of privately owned land is used for agricultural purposes, with over 130 million acres dedicated to farming and ranching. However, there has been a recent trend of companies and investors purchasing large tracts of land for various reasons.
Who are the Biggest Landowners in Texas?
The biggest landowners in Texas are Brad Kelley, the Texas Pacific Land Trust, Caddo Sustainable Timberlands, the King Ranch Heirs, and The Briscoe Family.
Brad Kelley | 940,000 acres |
Texas Pacific Land Trust | 900,000 acres |
Caddo Sustainable Timberlands | 831,000 acres |
King Ranch Heirs | 825,000 acres |
The Briscoe Family | 738,000 acres |
1) Brad Kelley: 940,000 acres
The biggest landowner in Texas is Brad Kelley, who owns over 940,000 acres of land. Brad Kelley, an American businessman, ranks as the 9th largest private landowner in the United States, boasting an estimated net worth of $2.2 billion as of 2018. Brad Kelley founded Commonwealth Brands, a tobacco company, in 1991 and successfully sold it to Houchens Industries for $1 billion in 2001.
2) Texas Pacific Land Trust: 900,000 acres
The Texas Pacific Land Trust is the second largest landowner in Texas with approximately 900,000 acres of land in the Western portions of the state. The Texas Pacific Land Corporation is a publicly traded real estate operating company with its administrative office in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1871 under a federal charter to construct a transcontinental railroad, the company encountered financial difficulties and declared bankruptcy in 1888. As a result, the 3.5 million acres granted to the company were placed in a trust. Ironically, this bankruptcy has preserved the company's existence for over 150 years.
3) Caddo Sustainable Timberlands: 831,000 acres
Caddo Sustainable Timberlands is the third largest landowner in Texas, owning over 831,000 acres of land. Caddo also owns timberland in Louisiana. Over 30 mills across both states process timber from these forests, with every acre certified under the stringent standards of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The company also leases land for recreation to hunters.
4) King Ranch Heirs: 825,000 acres
The third largest landowner in Texas is the King Ranch Heirs. King Ranch stretches over 825,000 acres in South Texas, making it larger than the state of Rhode Island. Home to 35,000 cattle and more than 200 Quarter Horses, it ranks among the largest ranches in the world. Beyond its Texas properties, King Ranch also owns and manages farmland in Florida.
5) The Briscoe Family: 738,000 acres
The Briscoe Family is the fifth largest landowner in Texas. They own over 738,00 acres of land. Uvalde has served as the center of operations for the Briscoe family's banking and ranching ventures for many years. Today, Dolph "Chip" Briscoe III manages the family's extensive Texas landholdings, which have expanded beyond their original South Texas base at Catarina Ranch to include properties in the Trans-Pecos and Rolling Plains regions.
Companies Purchasing Land in Texas
The dynamic landscape of land ownership in Texas is increasingly being shaped by a wide range of companies seeking to invest in the state's vast resources and favorable business policies. These enterprises, spanning industries from agriculture to technology, are drawn to Texas for its fertile soil, strategic location, and burgeoning economy. As real estate and land continue to appreciate, these companies are not only looking to expand their operational footprint but also to capitalize on potential returns.
1) Tesla, Inc.
Tesla, Inc. is one of the many companies that recently moved its headquarters from California to Texas. To support its rapid expansion, Tesla Inc., owned by Elon Musk, has purchased large amounts of land across Texas in recent years. The appraised value of properties owned by Elon Musk's companies in Texas has surged to at least $2.5 billion, according to county land appraisal data compiled by NBC News. Analysis reveals that the value of these land holdings has increased by over 400% in the past five years, driven by both land investments and rising real estate prices. This significant growth is largely due to two major projects: Tesla's Gigafactory near Austin and SpaceX's launch site at the southern tip of the state.
SpaceX has established significant operations in Texas, primarily in Bastrop County, home to its Starlink base, and in Cameron County on the western Gulf Coast, where Starbase, also known as the Brownsville South Texas Launch Site, is located. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's tunnel-boring venture, The Boring Company, owns land valued at approximately $3.6 million at its headquarters in Bastrop County, near southeast Austin.
The Colorado River Project (sole owner Tesla, Inc.) paid almost $100 million for a 2,000-acre site to make its Gigafactory Texas in Austin. According to land acquisition data from the Travis County local government appraisal office, Tesla has been purchasing property in the area since 2018, with an initial value of $342 million.
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2) Amazon
Between 2020 and 2022, Amazon tripled its ownership of industrial space in North America, according to company filings. Amazon expands by acquiring existing structures, like defunct call centers, and also by purchasing undeveloped land. According to CoStar, Amazon has invested at least $2.2 billion in purchasing land or properties marked for redevelopment over the past two years. This figure is considered conservative, as some states, like Texas, do not disclose purchase prices. Purchasing land marks a significant change for Amazon, which traditionally depended on a select group of developers to locate properties, construct basic warehouses, and lease them back to the company. Currently, Amazon is handling more aspects of development internally, frequently competing with long-term partners for prime real estate.
Amazon is purchasing large amounts of land across the country for data centers. In the beginning of 2024, the company purchased a 193-acre parcel in Round Rock, Texas, for a data center on the former Robinson Ranch. Texas isn't the only state that Amazon is purchasing land, though! One notable example is Virginia, which is a hotspot for data center development. In fact, Amazon Data Services Inc. recently paid $152 million to acquire roughly 140 acres across four parcels in Manassas.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon has also privately purchased large amounts of land in Texas, totaling over 462,000 acres. As a child, Bezos cultivated his affection for wide-open spaces on his grandparents' ranch near Cotulla. Today, his substantial ranch land is primarily situated north of Van Horn. While locals call it the Corn Ranch, Bezos and his Blue Origin team have a different name for it: LS1, or Launch Site One.
3) CBRE
CBRE is another large company that has recently moved its headquarters from California to Texas. The company is also purchasing properties in Texas. For example, in Q3 2024, CBRE purchased the 72-acre McKinney National Business Park in Dallas. McKinney National Business Park offers flexible space options, accommodating users from 35,000 to 187,000 square feet. Strategically located in a rapidly growing area, it benefits from a 31% population increase over the past 20 years and significant development in single-family and multifamily projects.
How to Find Landowners in Texas
The landscape of land ownership in Texas is undergoing a dynamic transformation, driven by major companies like Tesla, Amazon, and CBRE, who each bring their unique resources and ambitions to the state. Their strategic land acquisitions not only highlight Texas as a pivotal hub for technological and industrial growth but also underscore its appeal due to vast opportunities and favorable conditions for development. As these companies expand their footprints, they significantly contribute to the state's economy, fostering job creation, infrastructure development, and technological advancement, while also enhancing Texas's global stature as an attractive destination for business innovation.
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