This Man Owns More Land in US

This Man Owns More Land in US Than Anyone

Telecom exec John Malone has 2.2M acres

By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff

John Malone, chairman of Liberty Media, is the largest private landowner in the US.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

(NEWSER) – The list may not have the same cachet as the Forbes list of richest Americans, but it's an interesting look at an often overlooked aspect of US wealth. The Land Report is out with its annual list of the 100 largest private landholders in America, and sitting on top is a man who made his fortune in the telecom business. Liberty Media Chairman John Malone has 2.2 million acres across the US, spread across several states from coast to coast. The Washington Post highlights a rich-are-getting-richer component of the list: In 2007, the 100 biggest landowners collectively had 27 million acres. In 2017, that total is 40.2 million acres, roughly the equivalent of New England, without Vermont. The Post sees the growing interest in land acquisition as a more stable investment for investors who don't want to be at the mercy of the stock market. The top 10 follow.

The biggest landholders:

1. John Malone, 2.2 million acres
2. Ted Turner, 2 million acres
3. Emmerson Family, 1.96 million acres
4. Stan Kroenke, 1.38 million acres
5. Reed Family, 1.37 million acres
6. Irving Family, 1.25 million acres
7. Brad Kelley, 1.15 million acres
8. Singleton Family, 1.1 million acres
9. King Ranch Heirs, 911,215 acres
10. Pingree Heirs, 830,000 acres