Bill Gates Becomes Biggest U.S. Farmland Owner, Has Extensive Arkansas Land Holdings (2024)

Best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates now lays claim to a new title: the biggest farmland owner in the United States.

According to the Land Report, which bills itself as the “Magazine of the American Landowner,” Gates has amassed 242,000 in farmland acreage. Gates and his wife Melinda own a total of 268,984 acres of land, most of which includes the farmland, along with 25,750 acres of transitional land and 1,234 acres of recreational land.

Part of that land is in Arkansas. The Gates family owns 47,927 acres in Arkansas, according to the Land Report. This acreage accounts for 17.8 percent of the family’s total land holdings. The report did not specify if the Arkansas land was all farmland.

Arkansas had the second-most land owned by the Gates family, after Louisiana. In the Bayou State, the Gates family reportedly own 69,071 acres of land, making up approximately 25.68 percent of the family’s overall land holdings.

The Land Report article provides an in-depth look at how editors tracked down Gates’ farmland acquisitions.

With 242,000 acres of farmland, the Gates family is now comfortably ahead of the rest of the top farmland owners in the country. The next largest farmland owners are the Offutt family, with 190,000 acres, and Stewart and Lynda Resnick with 190,000 acres.

The Offutt family operates a potato farm based in Fargo, North Dakota, as well as owning RDO Equipment, according to agriculture.com. Stewart and Lynda Resnick, the founders of the Wonderful Company, own acreage in California and Texas.

The fourth and fifth largest farmland owners are the Fanjul family with 160,000 acres and the Boswell family with 150,000 acres, based on the 2020 Land Report 100.

However, the largest land owner in the United States is John Malone, the former CEO of Tele-Communications, Inc. A USA Today report lists his land holdings at 2.2 million acres, spread across Colorado, Maine, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Ted Turner, who reportedly owns property in Arkansas, comes up just behind Malone on the USA Today list with 2 million acres. Most of his land is located in Georgia, New Mexico, Nebraska and South Dakota.

READ MORE: How Farmland Owners Earn Income

READ MORE: Betting on the Farm: Carter Malloy and AcreTrader

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Bill Gates Becomes Biggest U.S. Farmland Owner, Has Extensive Arkansas Land Holdings (2024)

FAQs

Bill Gates Becomes Biggest U.S. Farmland Owner, Has Extensive Arkansas Land Holdings? ›

Part of that land is in Arkansas. The Gates family owns 47,927 acres in Arkansas, according to the Land Report. This acreage accounts for 17.8 percent of the family's total land holdings.

How much land does Bill Gates own in Arkansas? ›

Bill Gates owns 47,927 acres in Arkansas. He's one of the top landowners in Arkansas and has big plans for sustainable farming practices. The Gates family's vast real estate holdings include timberland, cattle ranches, and hay farms. In total, Bill Gates owns nearly 270,000 acres of farmland in the United States.

Who owns the largest percentage of farmland in the US? ›

Top Farmland Owners In The US
  • Top Farmland Owners In The US.
  • Bill Gates.
  • Ted Turner.
  • Stewart & Lynda Resnick.
  • Invest In Farmland Today!
  • Offutt Family.
  • The Fanjul Family.
  • Boswell Family.
Apr 23, 2023

Who is the largest landholder in the United States? ›

The 2022 Land Report 100, compiled each year by The Land Report magazine, released its annual list of landowners who own the most acres in the United States. The nation's largest private landowners are the Emmerson family in California who own over 2.4 million acres.

Who owns the most farmland in the USA? ›

People own most farmland. Some 2.6 million owners are individuals or families, and they own more than two thirds of all farm acreage. Fewer than 32,500 non family held corpor ations own farmland, and they own less than 5 percent of all U.S. farmland.

How much land in Arkansas is owned by the government? ›

Federal land is managed for many purposes, such as the conservation and development of natural resources, grazing and recreation. The federal government owns 9.41 percent of Arkansas's total land, 3,161,979 acres out of 33,599,360 total acres.

How much property does China own in the United States? ›

China owns roughly 384,000 acres of U.S. agricultural land, according to a 2021 report from the Department of Agriculture.

Who has the largest farmland in the world? ›

Mudanjiang City Mega Farm, the biggest farm in the world, is located in Heilongjiang Province, China.

How much of US farmland is foreign owned? ›

Of the 1.3 billion acres of private agricultural land in the United States, foreign entities fully or partially owned roughly 40 million acres valued at $74 billion in 2021.
...
Foreign Ownership of U.S. Agricultural Land.
YearPercentage of Foreign Held U.S. Agricultural Land
20192.7
20202.9
20213.1
8 more rows
Mar 16, 2023

What is the largest family owned ranch in the United States? ›

King Ranch, largest ranch in the United States, composed of a group of four tracts of land in southeastern Texas, totaling approximately 825,000 acres (333,800 hectares). The King Ranch was established by Richard King, a steamboat captain born in 1825 in Orange county, New York.

Who owns most of the property in America? ›

Approximately 60% of land in the United States is privately owned, and just a few individuals and families control a significant proportion of this land. The largest landowners in the United States are the Emmerson Family, John Malone, the Reed Family, Ted Turner, and the Kroenke Ranch.

Who owns the most public land in the US? ›

The federal government owns about 640 million acres (2.6 million km2) of land in the United States, about 28% of the total land area of 2.27 billion acres (9.2 million km2).

Is Warren Buffett buying farmland? ›

Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Michael Burry all invest in Farmland. Yet, most individual investors don't. I present the 3 reasons why I invest in farmland and how I do it.

Where is the richest farmland in the world? ›

The world has 15.749 million km(2) of arable land. (Arable land is land ploughed or tilled regularly, generally under a system of crop rotation). India has the most arable land in the world followed by the United States, Russia, China and Brazil.

Where is the best farmland in the US? ›

The best states for farmland in the US include Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, North Dakota, Texas, Iowa, Kentucky, Wyoming, and California. Consider factors like profitability, cost of operation, infrastructure, and availability when selecting a location.

Does the Catholic Church own the most land? ›

A live database provides a visual of all its land holdings. Conclusion: The Catholic Church owns the most land, far more than McDonald's and billionaire Bill Gates.

What country owns the most land? ›

The largest country in the world is Russia with a total area of 17,098,242 Km² (6,601,665 mi²) and a land area of 16,376,870 Km² (6,323,142 mi²), equivalent to 11% of the total world's landmass of 148,940,000 Km² (57,510,000 square miles). See also: Most Populous Countries.

How much farmland is left in the US? ›

From 2000 onwards, the total area of land in U.S. farms has decreased annually, aside from a small increase in 2012. Over the time period displayed, the total farmland area has decreased by almost 50 million acres, reaching a total of 893.4 million acres as of 2022.

What is an acre worth in Arkansas? ›

Over the past four years Arkansas farmland values have seen significant increases and, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service's 2022 Land Values Summary, the average value of ag land was $3,550 per acre in 2022, up 4.7% from 2021.

Is Arkansas the land of opportunity? ›

Land of Opportunity was a fitting nickname for Arkansas during the years following World War II when governors Sidney S. McMath and Orval E. Faubus pushed and prodded Arkansas into the modern world.

What is the biggest farm in Arkansas? ›

Goldcrest Farms, one of the largest farms in the US, is located in Miller County, Arkansas, along the riverbanks of the Red River and 28 miles from Texarkana and Interstate 30.

How much land in the US does Saudi Arabia own? ›

The Middle Eastern kingdom needs hay for its 170,000 cows. So, it's buying up farmland for the water-chugging crop in the drought-stricken American Southwest.

Do US citizens own land in China? ›

Foreign investors are not allowed to buy land in China. The land in China belongs to the state and the collectives.

How much is US in debt to China? ›

As of January 2023, the five countries owning the most US debt are Japan ($1.1 trillion), China ($859 billion), the United Kingdom ($668 billion), Belgium ($331 billion), and Luxembourg ($318 billion).

Which country has the best soil in the world? ›

Found in Ukraine, parts of Russia and the USA, mollisols are some of the world's most fertile soil. This type of soil includes black soils with high organic content.

What is the most fertile ground in the world? ›

The most fertile soils on Earth are the so-called black soils or chernozems. These are found in some areas in North America, Central Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia. It took several millennia and a specific climate and steppe vegetation for them to form.

What country has the best farmland? ›

Arable Land by Country 2023
CountryHectaresAcres
Russia121.6M300.6M
China119.5M295.2M
Brazil55.8M137.8M
Canada38.6M95.5M
128 more rows

Does the U.S. own land in Canada? ›

Crown lands

About 89% of Canada's land area (8,886,356 km²) is Crown land, which may either be federal (41%) or provincial (48%); the remaining 11% is privately owned.

What percent of North America is farmland? ›

Farms and Land

These farms accounted for 900.2 million acres of land in farms, or 40 percent of all U.S. land.

Which states have the most foreign-owned land? ›

As of year-end 2021, according to USDA, the states with the most foreign-owned agricultural acreage were Texas (5.3 million acres), Maine (3.6 million acres), Colorado (1.9 million acres), Alabama (1.8 million acres), and Oklahoma (1.7 million acres).

What is the largest beef producing ranch in the US? ›

King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States. At some 825,000 acres (3,340 km2; 1,289 sq mi) it is larger than the state of Rhode Island and country of Luxembourg. It is mainly a cattle ranch, but also produced the Triple Crown winning racehorse Assault. NRHP reference No.

What is the largest single piece of privately owned land? ›

The largest U.S. ranch is King Ranch in Kingsville, TX. The ranch is 825,000 acres and is larger than the country of Luxembourg.

Who owns the richest property in the world? ›

The world's most expensive private residence in the world, Antilia is owned by Mukesh Ambani, the richest person in India, and is named after a mythical island in the Atlantic.

Who owns the most expensive property in the US? ›

Among the billionaires undeterred by the economy last year was Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison who, after just missing 2021's most expensive home sales list, topped the list in 2022 with the purchase of Netscape cofounder Jim Clark's 16-acre compound in Manalapan, Florida for $173 million.

Who has the most property on earth? ›

Top Landowners In The World
LandownersTotal Acres
1. The Family Of Queen Elizabeth II Of Great Britain6,750,000,000
2. The Catholic Church177,000,000
3. The Inuit People In Nanuvut, Northern Canada87,500,000
4. Gina Rinehar22,700,000
8 more rows
Jan 19, 2023

What percentage of the land in Arkansas is privately owned? ›

Acres for Wildlife Enrollment Form

Almost 90 percent of Arkansas's land is privately owned.

What percent of Arkansas is public land? ›

Below are the percentages of public and private lands in each state in the United States.
...
US States Land Ownership by Percentage:
Rank21
StateAR
% that is Public Land17.3%
% that is Private Land82.7%
50 more columns

Where is the most open land in the United States? ›

Here are the 10 states with the most federal land:
  • Nevada - 84.94%
  • Utah - 64.9%
  • Idaho - 61.63%
  • Alaska - 61.24%
  • Oregon - 52.95%
  • Wyoming - 48.14%
  • California - 45.77%
  • Arizona - 38.61%

How many acres of farmland does Jeff Bezos own? ›

Bezos, the founder of Amazon, owns about 420,000 acres of U.S. farmland, according to media reports. Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has nearly 270,000 acres. The United States has more than 895 million acres of land in farms, the USDA has reported.

Does Bill Gates get farm subsidies? ›

While many agricultural support programs are meant to “save the family farm,” the largest beneficiaries of agricultural subsidies are the richest landowners with the largest farms who, like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, are scarcely in any need of taxpayer handouts.

Why are investors buying farmland? ›

It's simple: land values rise, and the land produces crops, which provides you with income. The higher the income, the more valuable the farmland. In addition, the land could appreciate due to its beauty or location for a vacation property.

What is the best soil in the United States? ›

Mollisols are the best soils for farming because they contain large quantities of organic matter. Mollisols found in the Midwestern U.S. are the best for agriculture due to the grasslands that were present thousands of years ago.

What state has the cheapest farmland? ›

Oklahoma. Oklahoma currently sits at the lowest cost per acre among the best states for farmland in the US, so this is another state to consider when looking to buy land for agricultural purposes.

What is the richest soil? ›

Porous loamy soils are the richest of all, laced with organic matter which retains water and provides the nutrients needed by crops. Sand and clay soils tend to have less organic matter and have drainage problems: sand is very porous and clay is impermeable.

Where is most farmland being lost in the US? ›

The Plains states are losing some of the most prime farmland in America, according to AFT.

Which state is 90% farmland? ›

The United States had 895.3 million acres of land in farms in 2021. Texas had the most land in farms in the United States in 2021 followed by Montana and Kansas.

Who is the biggest farmer in the United States? ›

Bill Gates

How much farmland does Jeff Bezos own in the US? ›

420,000

Where does Bill Gates have property? ›

Bill Gates designed and owns a mansion that overlooks Lake Washington in Medina, Washington. The 66,000-square-foot (6,100 m2) mansion incorporates technology in its design. In 2009, property taxes were reported to be US$1.063 million on a total assessed value of US$147.5 million.

How much of Arkansas is farmland? ›

Arkansas has an estimated 14.3 million farmland acres with about 6.2 million dedicated to row crops, according to the Arkansas Farm Bureau.

What percent of Arkansas farms are family owned? ›

Arkansas is a major exporter of rice, soybeans, cotton, poultry and feed grains. There are 49,346 farms statewide and 97 percent of Arkansas' farms are family-owned.

What is the largest farm in the United States? ›

King Ranch, largest ranch in the United States, composed of a group of four tracts of land in southeastern Texas, totaling approximately 825,000 acres (333,800 hectares). The King Ranch was established by Richard King, a steamboat captain born in 1825 in Orange county, New York.

What is the number 1 crop in Arkansas? ›

Overview of Arkansas Crops

Arkansas ranks 1st in rice production. More than 1.6 million acres are harvested annually in over 40 counties.

Does Jeff Bezos own more land than Bill Gates? ›

Gates is No. 41 on The Land Report's 2022 list of Americans who own the most land. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos comes in at No. 24 with 420,000 acres, which forms the site of his suborbital spaceflight company, Blue Origin.

Who is the world's biggest farmer? ›

Qin is the richest farmer in the world and owns 883 million shares of Muyuan stock, 40.06% of the company.

Which billionaire owns the most land in the USA? ›

One of the largest landowners in the US is real estate tycoon Stan Kroenke, who owns nearly 1.7 million acres of land scattered over seven states. Ranches, forestry, hunting preserves, and several significant developments are among Kroenke's holdings.

What car does Bill Gates own? ›

Answer: Bill Gates owns several high-end cars. Chief of these are include Ferrari 348, a Porsche 959, a Porsche 911 and a Porsche Taycan, which was the latest addition to his garage.

Who owns the biggest house in the world? ›

Who is the owner of the biggest house in the world ? Istana Nurul Iman Palace, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the largest house in the world, spread over 2.15 million square feet.

Who will inherit Bill Gates fortune? ›

Bill Gates has a fortune of more than $100 billion from his multiple businesses, many of them derived from his co-founding of Microsoft. Part of that money will go to Jennifer, the tycoon's daughter from his marriage to Melinda, who will inherit a small part of that incredible figure tomorrow.

How much does 1 acre of land cost in Arkansas? ›

Over the past four years Arkansas farmland values have seen significant increases and, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service's 2022 Land Values Summary, the average value of ag land was $3,550 per acre in 2022, up 4.7% from 2021.

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