Although billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg have expansive portfolios, they’re not among the largest landowners in the United States.
In fact, they’re not even close.
The Land Report published its annual roundup of the top private landowners across the country in January. The outlet has collected land ownership data for nearly two decades.
In 2026, the list includes several billionaires, the children of business moguls, and the family of a former Texas governor.
1. Stanley Kroenke: 2.7 million acres
Stanley Kroenke is the largest private landowner in the US with 2.7 million acres. The billionaire bought over 937,000 deeded acres in New Mexico last December, marking the single-largest land purchase in over a decade, according to The Land Report.
Kroenke — married to Walmart heiress Ann Walton — is a real estate mogul who has invested heavily in sports teams through his holdings company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. That includes owning the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, and the Arsenal Football Club.
2. The Emmerson Family: 2.4 million acres
The Emmerson Family is the largest private timberland owner in the country, which may not be surprising given their business.
Sierra Pacific Industries — founded in 1949 — says it owns and manages over 2.4 million acres of timberland in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Mark D. Emmerson and George Emmerson, the sons of Sierra Pacific Industries cofounder Archie “Red” Emmerson, now helm the company.
3. John Malone: 2.2 million acres
John Malone, also known as the Cable Cowboy, is a billionaire media mogul who led Tele-Communications Inc. for over 25 years.
He owns 2.2 million acres of land across New Mexico, Wyoming, Florida, and Colorado, according to The Land Report.
The Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation has a joint initiative with The Land Institute called the Perennial Agriculture Project. The project funds research about perennial crop system development.
4. Ted Turner: 2 million acres
Ted Turner has amassed 2 million acres of land following a high-profile career in American broadcasting.
Turner led Turner Broadcasting Systems before founding CNN, the country’s first 24-hour all-news network, in 1980. Eight years later, he created TNT.
Turner Enterprises Inc. oversees the billionaire’s investments, business interests, and land holdings. That includes the millions of acres and over 45,000 bison.
5. The Reed Family: 1.6 million acres
The Reed Family, owners of the Green Diamond Resource Company, has over 1.6 million acres of land, according to the report.
The Green Diamond Resource Company is one of the largest timberland owner-operators in the US, managing 2.2 million acres across nine states.
The family-owned business has spanned six generations. Douglas Reed serves as the company’s president and chair.
6. The Buck Family: 1.3 million acres
The Buck Family has accumulated 1.3 million acres across the country, making them the sixth-largest US landowner, according to the report.
The Buck family amassed their wealth through the late Peter Buck, who cofounded Pete’s Super Submarines in Connecticut. The franchise later became Subway, which has over 20,000 restaurants globally.
7. The Irving Family: 1.2 million acres
The Irving family owns 1.2 million acres in Maine, as well as additional land in parts of Canada, according to the report.
James Dergavel Irving founded J.D. Irving, Limited, in 1882. The Canadian company’s original portfolio included a sawmill, a gristmill, a carding mill, a farm, a general store, and a lumber business.
Now, J.D. Irving, Limited has expanded its services into consumer products, construction, transportation, and other sectors. Robert Irving and Jim Irving serve as co-CEOs.
8. The King Ranch heirs: 911,00 acres
The report ranked the heirs of King Ranch, the largest ranch in the US, at No. 8, with 911,000 acres.
The ranch got its start in 1853 when Captain Richard King purchased land in South Texas. The ranch says it also owns land in Florida.
King Ranch has a wide range of operations, from cattle ranching to breeding horses.
9. The Pingree heirs: 830,000 acres
The heirs of David Pingree Sr. founded the Seven Islands Land Company in 1964. Pingree was a Salem, Massachusetts, shipping merchant who invested in Maine’s timberlands in the 1800s.
As of 2026, the family has amassed 830,000 acres, according to the report.
10. The Cullen heirs: 800,000 acres
The report ranked the heirs of Hugh Roy Cullen at No. 10 with 800,000 acres in the US.
The Cullen Foundation says Hugh’s career began in Texas in the 1890s. He entered the cotton business before investing in real estate.
Hugh founded Quintana Petroleum Corporation in 1932. The company’s mining division — Quintana Minerals Corporation— was formed 31 years later.
Now, the corporation is a management company run by the Robertson family. Corbin J. Robertson Jr. is Cullen’s grandson.
11. The Briscoe Family: 738,000 acres
The Briscoe family is the 11th largest US landowner.
The late Dolph Briscoe, Jr., was the governor of Texas from 1973 to 1979. The family’s holdings, spanning over 1,000 square miles, are overseen by Dolph “Chip” Briscoe III, according to the report.
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