Largest Landowners in the United States 2026
- Craig Kaiser
- Jan 13
- 7 min read
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 explores 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 organizations 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 2026
The largest landowners in the United States in 2026 are the U.S. government, Native America Tribes, the Weyerhaeuser Company, Rayonier, 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 Weyerhaeuser Company | 10.5 million acres |
Rayonier | 2,700,000 acres |
Stan Kroenke | 2,700,000 acres |
The Emmerson Family | 2,440,000 acres |
John Malone | 2,200,000 acres |
Ted Turner | 2,000,000 acres |
The Reed Family | 1,615,000 acres |
The Buck Family | 1,320,000 acres |
The Irving Family | 1,267,000 acres |
Source: The Land Report
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 the United States government itself- not a person or a family. The U.S. 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.
On May 6th, 2025, House Republicans approved an amendment permitting the sale of nearly 460,000 acres of federal public land in Nevada and Utah. The amendment faced major opposition, and was removed from the Big Beautiful Bill, but GOP lawmakers are still arguing that the initiative will help reduce the national deficit and contribute to paying down the nation’s debt by producing billions in new revenue and cost savings. Although this is only a small percentage of public lands owned by the U.S. government, this decision has sparked nationwide debate due to a variety of concerns.
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 Weyerhaeuser Company
Weyerhaeuser Company is the largest institutional landowner in the United States, owning approximately 10.5 million acres in the U.S. and an additional 2 million acres in Canada. Founded in 1900, this timberland giant has grown into one of the world’s largest private owners of forested land. Its vast holdings support the timber industry while also providing critical wildlife habitat and acting as major carbon sinks, contributing to environmental sustainability. Beyond forestry, Weyerhaeuser leverages its land for community development, mining, natural gas, recreational leasing, bioenergy, solar, and wind energy projects.
4) Rayonier
Rayonier, a major U.S. forest products company, owns and manages around 2.7 million acres of timberland across the Southern U.S. and Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1926, it has evolved from rayon manufacturing into a leading timberland REIT. Its forests supply high-value wood and fiber for construction, paper, and other industries, while sustainable forestry practices protect wildlife habitat and forest health. Rayonier also leases land for recreation- like hunting, fishing, and hiking- and for renewable energy projects, including solar and wind, supporting both ecological resilience and local economies.
5) Stan Kroenke
Stan Kroenke is a real estate developer and sports team owner, with approximately 2.7 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. In late 2025, Stan Kroenke dramatically increased his already vast land portfolio by acquiring nearly a million acres of ranchland in New Mexico, solidifying his position as the largest private landowner in the U.S. At the same time, he continued pursuing major urban development projects in Denver around Ball Arena and in California’s San Fernando Valley, purchasing land for future entertainment, sports, and residential ventures. Stan Kroenke also owns Cañon Blanco Ranch, an 80,892-acre working cattle ranch located just 30 minutes from Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico.
6) The Emmerson Family
According to The Land Report's Top 100 Largest Landowners list, 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.
7) 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.
8) 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 565,000 acres and stands as one of the largest ranches in the U.S.
9) 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.
10) 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.
11) 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.
Other Large Landowners in the United States
While these may be the top 11 largest landowners in the United States in 2026 so far, 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. include The Nature Conservancy (2 million acres) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1.7 million acres). 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
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