Who Owns the Most Farmland in the U.S.?
- Craig Kaiser
- Jan 14
- 5 min read
When it comes to farmland in the United States, ownership isn’t just in the hands of family farmers- it’s increasingly dominated by massive private landholders whose holdings span hundreds of thousands of acres. Leading the pack are billionaires Stan Kroenke, John Malone, and Ted Turner, whose vast properties give them outsized influence over American agriculture, rural economies, and food supply. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at these top landowners, how they built their farmland empires, and what their growing footprints mean for farmers and communities across the country.
Largest Farmland Owner Name | Approx. Acreage Owned |
Stan Kroenke | 2.7 million acres |
John Malone | 2.2 million acres |
Ted Turner | 2 million acres |
Bill Gates | 275,000 acres |
Stewart & Lynda Resnick | 190,000 acres |
Offutt Family | 190,000 acres |
Fanjul Family | 190,000 acres |
Who Owns the Most Farmland in the U.S.? Largest Agricultural Landowners
Farmland sits at the intersection of profitability, stability, sustainability, and scarcity- making it a compelling asset for billionaires looking decades ahead, not just years. The largest agricultural landowners in the United States are Stan Kroenke, John Malone, Ted Turner, Bill Gates, Stewart and Lynda Resnick, the Offutt family, and the Fanjul family.
1. Stan Kroenke
Stan Kroenke, a businessman and sports team owner, is the largest farmland owner in the U.S. He owns around 2.7 million acres of land. His diverse land holdings encompass both agricultural and recreational properties, so it's unclear how much of that is farmland specifically. In late 2025, he purchased nearly a million acres of ranch land in New Mexico from the heirs of late industrialist Henry Singleton, making him the largest landowner in the U.S.
2. John Malone
John Malone, a prominent media executive and business magnate, owns more than 2.2 million acres of land in the United States, including ranches and farmland, making him the second-largest farmland owner in the country. His holdings span both agricultural and recreational properties across states like Maine, Colorado, and New Mexico, though the exact portion of his acreage dedicated specifically to farmland is not publicly detailed. According to the Land Report, a key focus of the Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation is the Perennial Agriculture Project, a partnership with the Land Institute, which develops science-based methods for sustainable food production that protect soil and land.
3. Ted Turner
Ted Turner, the media entrepreneur and founder of CNN, ranks as the third-largest farmland owner in the United States. He owns roughly 2 million acres of land nationwide, much of which consists of expansive ranches, including the Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico, which is one of the largest ranches in the U.S. Beyond bison ranching, many of Turner’s properties are dedicated to conservation and land stewardship. While an estimated 200,000 acres of his holdings are used specifically for farmland, the precise figure has not been publicly confirmed.
4. Bill Gates
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, and his former wife, Melinda Gates, are widely known for their philanthropy and also for owning a substantial portfolio of U.S. farmland. According to the Land Report, Gates owns an estimated 275,000 acres across 17 states, ranking him as the fourth-largest farmland owner in the country. Despite the size of his holdings, they represent less than 1/4,000th of all U.S. farmland. The properties are managed by a professional team focused on diversification, productivity, and long-term value, with investments aimed at improving agricultural efficiency and supporting job creation. These farmland assets are managed through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, though Melinda Gates departed the foundation in June 2024.
5. Stewart and Lynda Resnick
Stewart and Lynda Resnick, entrepreneurs behind The Wonderful Company, have made a name for themselves in the agricultural industry and represent the fifth largest farmland owner in the U.S. The Wonderful Company owns approximately 190,000 acres of farmland, mostly in California, and is involved in the production of fruits, nuts, and other agricultural products.
6. The Offutt Family
The Offutt family are prominent American agricultural landowners, best known for R.D. Offutt Farms (also called the R.D. Offutt Company), a large family-run farming operation headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota. They own roughly 190,000 acres of farmland, ranking among the largest private farmland owners in the U.S. Most of their land, located primarily in North Dakota and Minnesota, is dedicated to large-scale crop production, with potatoes as a major focus. R.D. Offutt Company is one of the nation’s leading potato producers, and their farms also grow crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat across different parcels of their holdings.
7. The Fanjul Family
The Fanjul family is among the largest private farmland owners in the U.S., holding approximately 190,000 acres of agricultural land. Their land is primarily dedicated to large-scale sugarcane cultivation, particularly in Palm Beach County, Florida, where their flagship company, Florida Crystals Corporation, manages the extensive sugarcane fields. These operations make the Fanjul's one of the nation’s largest privately held sugar producers, with their Florida acreage alone supplying a significant portion of the U.S. sugar market. The sugarcane harvested from these fields is processed in multiple family-owned mills and facilities, producing sugar and sweetener products for both domestic and international brands. Beyond sugarcane, portions of their land are used for rotation crops like rice and corn, employing sustainable farming practices.
Why Are Billionaires Buying Farmland?
Billionaires are buying farmland for a mix of financial, strategic, and long-term reasons- many of which make farmland especially attractive compared to other assets. Farmland is a stable, long-term investment and a hedge against inflation that allows them to diversify their portfolios. Plus, there is only a limited supply of farmland, meaning that it appreciates in value over time.
Stable, long-term investment: Farmland has historically delivered steady returns with lower volatility than stocks. Farmland investments tend to appreciate over time and can generate income through crops, leases, or ranching. Some of the largest private landowners in the United States invest in farmland as a way to secure valuable, appreciating assets.
Inflation hedge: As food prices rise with inflation, farmland values and farm revenues often rise too, making it a strong hedge when currencies lose purchasing power.
Limited supply: They aren’t making more land. High-quality farmland is finite, which supports long-term value and scarcity-driven appreciation. However, this concentration of ownership can drive up land prices, creating challenges for smaller or independent farmers who may find it harder to acquire or expand their holdings amid rising costs.
Portfolio diversification: Farmland behaves differently than equities, tech, or urban real estate investments, helping ultra-wealthy investors and billionaires reduce risk by diversifying their portfolios.
Tax advantages: Agricultural land can offer favorable tax treatment, conservation easements, and long-term estate planning benefits.
Food security and global demand: With population growth, climate pressure, and supply-chain volatility, productive land is increasingly seen as a strategic asset tied to future food security. Philanthropic foundations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, acquire farmland to support broader initiatives in sustainable development and global challenges.
Conservation: Some billionaires, like Ted Turner, invest in farmland to promote sustainable agriculture, soil health, conservation, or regenerative practices aligned with environmental goals.
Farmland Owners: How LandApp Helps You Find Property Ownership Data
Traditionally, finding agricultural landowners owners means digging through public records, county assessor databases, or piecing together information from company websites- an approach that’s time-consuming and often fragmented. Online tools like LandApp Pro have changed that. With nationwide coverage, official public records, real-time parcel data, and satellite imagery layered into one intuitive map, LandApp Pro makes it easy to instantly identify property boundaries and farmland owners in seconds. Skip the guesswork and manual searches and subscribe to LandApp Pro to access the most efficient, accurate, and visual way to find property owners anywhere in the U.S.- all available on desktop or on our mobile app.
