The United States is the third largest country in the world by land area, with a total of 3,796,742 square miles. As such, it should come as no surprise that there are some massive landowners within its borders. But who owns the most land in the U.S.? This resource delves into the largest landowners in the U.S., examining the expanse of their holdings, the nature of their properties, and the significant influence they wield over the land and its resources. From private investors and ranching moguls to conservation organisations and corporate giants, these landowners play a pivotal role in various sectors, including agriculture, forestry, and renewable energy development.
Largest Landowners in the United States in 2025
The largest Landowners in the United States in 2025 are the U.S. government, Native America Tribes, the Emmerson Family, John Malone, and Ted Turner.
Largest Landowner Name | Approximate Acreage Owned |
The U.S. Government | 650 million acres |
Native American Tribes | 56 million acres |
The Emmerson Family | 2,411,000 acres |
John Malone | 2,200,000 acres |
Ted Turner | 2,000,000+ acres |
Stan Kroenke | 1,762,000+ acres |
The Reed Family | 1,661,000+ acres |
The Irving Family | 1,300,000+ acres |
The Buck Family | 1,236,000+ acres |
1) The United States Government
While many people may associate large land ownership with wealthy private individuals or families, the reality is that much of the land in the United States is owned by the federal and state governments. The largest landowner in the country is not a person or family, but rather the United States government itself.
The government owns a staggering near-650 million acres of land, which accounts for roughly 28% of all land in the country. This includes popular national parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, and The Grand Canyon.
2) Native American Tribes
Native American tribes jointly hold an estimated 56 million acres of land in the United States, which is approximately 2.4% of the total U.S. land area. This land is mainly held in trust by the federal government for the tribes and is used for a variety of purposes, including cultural preservation, agriculture, and economic development.
3) The Emmerson Family
The largest private landowner in the United States is the Emmerson family, which owns and operates Sierra Pacific Industries, one of the largest lumber producers in the country. With a land ownership of over 2,411,00 million acres, mainly timberland in California, Washington, and Oregon, the Emmerson's are among the wealthiest landowners in the world. In fact, in October 2021, Sierra Pacific Industries announced a historic acquisition of 175,000 acres of land in Oregon.
4) John Malone
The second largest private landowner in the U.S. and the fourth largest landowner overall in 2025 is John Malone. With land ownership of over 2,200,000 million acres spread over 13 states, Malone is the chairman of Liberty Media and has made a fortune in the telecommunications industry. Most of his land holdings are in Maine and New Hampshire, and they are primarily used for conservation purposes.
5) Ted Turner
Rounding out the top three largest private landowners in the country is media mogul Ted Turner. With a land ownership of over 2 million acres, Turner is also known for his conservation efforts and has designated much of his land as protected wildlife habitats. His extensive real estate holdings also include ranch and farmland. His largest property is the Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico, which spans over 590,000 acres.
6) Stan Kroenke
Stan Kroenke is a real estate developer and sports team owner, with approximately 1.762 million acres of land in the United States scattered through 7 states. His largest property is the W.T. Waggoner Ranch in Texas, which spans over 534,000 acres. The latest addition to the Kroenke Ranches portfolio is Cañon Blanco Ranch, an 80,892-acre working cattle ranch located just 30 minutes from Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico. Nestled on the southwestern slopes of Glorieta Mesa between the Sandia and Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the ranch comprises 62,395 deeded acres, a 16,105-acre lease from the state of New Mexico, and 2,392 acres leased from the Bureau of Land Management.
7) The Reed Family
The Reed Family, known for their business in manufacturing and retail, has an estimated land ownership of over 1.6 million acres, making them the seventh largest landowner in the United States. Most of the Reed family's land is located in Nevada and California and is used primarily for timber. The family currently owns Simpson Investment Company, established 1890, and its spin-off company, Green Diamond Resource.
8) The Irving Family
The Irving Family of Canada also has significant land ownership in the United States, with an estimated 1.3 million acres of land. In Canada, the Irving Family owns 1.9 million acres of land. Their holdings include property in Maine and New Brunswick, as well as ranches in Texas. Their land holdings are primarily composed of timberland, and the family contributes significantly to forestry initiatives in North America. The Irving Family plants approximately 20 million trees each year.
9) The Buck Family
In addition to co-founding Subway and being a nuclear physicist, Peter Buck is the ninth largest landowner in the United States, owning over 1.23 million acres of land. Peter Buck co-founded Subway, one of the largest restaurant brands and is a nuclear physicist. Following Subway's success, Buck acquired 925,000 acres of timberland in Maine. In 2020, he expanded his holdings with an additional 311,000 acres, elevating him from 9th to 7th on the list of largest landowners. Notably, Buck is also the owner of Tall Timbers Trust, one of Maine’s largest timberland owners.
Other Large Landowners in the United States
While these may be the top eight largest landowners in the United States in 2024, there are many other notable individuals and families with significant land holdings in the country. These include media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who owns approximately 833,000 acres of land, and Bill Gates, who owns nearly 300,000 acres of farmland, making him one of the largest farmland owners in the U.S. Another large landowner is Jeff Bezos, who owns approximately 420,000 acres of land in 2024.
Various corporations and institutions in the United States also own large amounts of land. The largest institutional landowners in the U.S. are the Weyerhauser Company, Rayonier, Sierra Pacific Industries, The Nature Conservancy, and The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints. These institutions own significant acreage across the country composed of various types of land used for different purposes.
Overall, large land ownership in the United States is a diverse mix of government ownership, private individuals and families, and corporations. Beyond the top eight mentioned in this resource, there are still many other significant landowners contributing to the vast landscape of the country. As the population continues to grow and urban development expands, it will be interesting to see how these landowners manage their properties and contribute to the changing landscape of the United States.
How to Find Out Who Owns Land
Wondering how to find out who owns land? LandGate's LandApp tool contains ownership information for every U.S. parcel of land! For just $10 per month, subscribers can search for land by owner or organization name, revealing the exact location of their properties.
