The oil and gas business man developed a love for land on his grandparents farm. Their Florida rice and sugar empire built the largest biomass power plant in the country. Were basically just marketing grass, he told Western Horseman, and the cows are a way to market the grass.. Background: The Ford familys Roseburg Forest Products had its origins in 1936 when the Roseburg Lumber Company was founded by owner Kenneth Ford. Among the soccer teams, railroads, movie theaters and newspaper, the Denver billionaire has enough land for what will be one of the largest wind farms in the country. Collier was the largest landholder in the state at the time of his death. The move earned a serious wag of the finger from MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. The vast majority of the land held by the individuals and families on this list is located in states west of the Mississippi River. Ware has transferred much of his holdings to the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation, which supports a number of causes, including animal welfare. 165,000 acres Plans for his land in Wyoming include a massive wind farm that will rank among the largest in the world. Horizontal drilling.). No longer #10 with the acquisition of Montanas Broken O Ranch, an inspiring combination of irrigated farming and cattle land envisioned by paint mogul, Benjamin Moore. Llano Partners:295,000 acres in New Mexico, Texas and Florida. Roughly equal to: The size of Los Angeles. Waggoner Estate claims to be the largest Texas ranch under one fence. Why has the federal governments ownership of land been decreasing? 152,000 acres This is excellent news for the wildlife! Offering competitive leases is only the start. These Gardens Started When Travel Slowed. The Lee Family owns an estimated 275,000 acres in New Mexico. Land: Operates 825,000 acres of cattle ranches and 60,000 acres of farms in South Texas; thousands of acres in Florida producing orange juice, sugar cane, sod, sweet corn and green beans. To determine the largest landowners in the United States, 24/7 Wall St . His land ownership in New Mexico will likely expand as the space industry develops. This land isn't your land. David Pingree, known as the Merchant Prince of Salem, built an empire that exceeded 1 million acres in the 1800s. Land: Ranchlands and farms in Texas and Florida. Florida land developers who were key in the creation of Big Cyprus National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, and numerous country clubs built around nature preserves. 24. The J.R. Simplot Company is one of the largest agribusinesses in the country, but per their website and despite that profit margin, their company is as small as a single farmer. With holdings as far as New Zealand, the Idaho-based company is a little larger than a single farm. Just as theres a language around buying a car, theres a dialect for selling bull semen. Ah the Koch Brothers. The Lees are sheep and cattle ranchers who owe some of their wealth to the discovery of uranium and coal on their property in the western half of the state. Roughly equal to: 2,500 times the size of Vatican City. The Hamer family owns some 600,000 acres of land, largely forest in West Virginia. Loves oil investment, ranching and Mitt Romney; not a fan of gay reporters knocking the Boy Scouts of America. His ranch is a refuge for a herd of big horn sheep, trophy elk, antelope, mountain lions and stone writings from early Spanish explorers, asking Donde esta la carne? or Wheres the beef? Ya, thats a joke. Family members runlumber, newspapers, and petrochemicals businesses. Because if youre going to go softwood sawmill, you want to make it state-of-the-art. For five generations, the Reed Family has owned and operated the logging company Green Diamond Resource Co. Owned the 06 Ranch nearly a century after its founding. Doesnt hold back on the adjectives when describing his prize herd of Hereford-Angus cattle. 130,000 acres Under the livestock feeding company Llano Partners Ltd., Hughes Abell owns and operates ranching operations in New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. An advertisement VanderSloott took out in Idaho Falls Post Register accused a reporter of bringing personal politics to a report on child molestation in a local Boy Scout troop when the reporter had not made his sexuality public. Today, his family owns some 280,000 acres, primarily in Collier County, which is named after him. Land: The Singleton ranches comprise of 29 ranches across California and New Mexico, including the picturesque San Cristobal Ranch outside of Santa Fe. (If youve made it to #81, that joke is especially for you. In 1959, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. 2,200,000 acres The islands ranch closed in 1999, leaving animals to roam freely and almost all residents to leave for other parts of the state. Background: Henry Singleton amassed his wealth in digital technology before purchasing the San Cristobal Ranch in 1986. 848,571 acres Their historic 55,709-acre Rockpile Ranch in Far West Texas is listed for $54.8 million. Thomas Peterffy arrived in the United States as a refugee from Hungary in 1965. In other words, stitching together all the land listed here gets you something about the size of Connecticut. His cows are big, thick, good traveling, sound, fertile, hardy Herefords. 9 Ranch Caprock, N.M. The Babbitts are long-time Arizona cattle ranchers who have been in the area since 1886. Before he passed away last year, an employee gave Robert Earl Holding a plaque that echoed his credo: All I want is the land next to mine. That land includes ski resorts in Utah and a whole lot of real estate in Salt Lake City, all of which he built from a small stake in a Wyoming truck stop. 28. Bird populations:Here's how we can save them. 27 febrero, 2023 . Ol A.S. bequeathed the private land to his daughters. He founded the Commonwealth Brands tobacco company in 1991 and sold the company in 2001 to Houchens Industries for US$1 billion. 22. Manages ranches only fit for the best cowboys. Thank them for the shirt on your back. Still, thats not as it much as it once was. That means the federal government controls 31.7% of the state's land. Sign up for your Modern Farmer Weekly Newsletter. Meet the 10 Largest Land Owners in Montana, Meet the 4 Largest Landowners in New Mexico, Ted Turner Enterprises, Available here: https://www.tedturner.com/turner-ranches/, The Land Report, Available here: https://landreport.com/2016/01/land-report-january-2016-newsletter/, Federal Landowner Report, Available here: https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R42346.pdf. Ranches in Wyoming and Montana; ski resorts in Utah and Idaho; six other luxury hotels and resorts across the country, including The Grand American Hotel in Salt Lake City. With over 77 million acres of land, theres plenty of room for people and nature to coexist. The enormous cattle operation near Yellowstone National Park seems not to mind when elk or antelope walk by. John Cassidy began amassing his 200,000 acre logging empire in Maine before the Civil War. 130,000 acres Pingree heirs:830,000 acres in Maine. They make money by leasing the state trust land to a multitude of companies. Roughly equal to: Three times the size of Guam. Background: Gerald Lyda's success in construction and land development in the 70s allowed him to return to ranching and amass over 900,000 acres within his lifetime. Founded by Thomas Douglas Stimson, the Stimson Lumber Company, which today operates out of the Pacific Northwest, has remained in the family for six generations. 149,000 acres Of all the grandpa-bought-some-land stories in this list, this is the best. 5 with 1.4 million acres, including a 124,000 acre ranch in Montana, and additional land in Wyoming. Today, the familys private holdings in Texas and Florida make up one of the largest cattle operations in the country. Learn more about the scenic state of New Mexico with the articles below. Roughly equal to: Three times the size of Houston. With plans underway for a major expansion of the aerospace industry, Bezos will no doubt be a major player in the states future. The Lee family comes in at No. Roughly equal to: One-tenth the size of Puerto Rico. The family is in the oil business. The cable billionaire from Denver added two properties in Wellington, the epicenter of South Floridas equestrian community, and an Irish castle with a solid set of stables. Family members are farmers and descendants of, Mom who lost both sons to fentanyl blasts laughing Biden, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' This ranching family owns some of the oldest operating ranch land in the country. 7 to 13 | Nos. Few can claim the title of cowboy philanthropist. Other than running significant cattle farms, Mechenbier and his wife help finance orphanages in New Mexico. 8. Boyd jumped 10 places to sit among America's 50 largest landowners after adding 18,253 acres to his portfolio. Roughly equal to: One-third the size of Delaware. The family behind logging company Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) with land holdings twice the size of Rhode Island. Roughly equal to: Two and a half times the size of Phoenix. The Beggs can thank W.D. Funk deals in bull semen lots of bull semen. Below are the nuts and bolts of the list along with some extra insights. This hedge fund manager wears his Audubon Medal with pride. St. Louis businessman Leo Drey began making sizable donations of Missouri forest land to the non-profit in the 1960s. here is a look at how much land the government owns in every state, The Land Report magazines 2018 Land Report, Growing 600lbs of gourmet mushrooms a week, Wisconsin's dairy industry would collapse without them, Here is a look at the richest person in every state, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Thomas Lane Jr. makes the ranching business sound simple: Were just continuing a tradition and well expand if we can.. Other than buying and selling financial institutions at huge markups, Ford has a deep love of the land. The family used the sale of New Mexicos Ladder Ranch to Ted Turner to purchase La Escalera ranch in Texas. 49. Sumary of Meet the 3 Largest Landowners in New Mexico:New Mexico top landowners are shaping the future of this unique state, making it a mind-blowing place to live, work, and play.You could plan the ultimate fishing trip or hike in the state stunning National Parks.There so much private land, too, with nearly 50 acres for every person in the state.Learn more about the scenic state of New . Background: Red Emmerson is president of Sierra Pacific Industries, a family-run lumber manufacturing business that ranks as California's largest private landowner. I said, Sometimes Ill wear everything I own. . Zane and Tanya Kiehne own ranches that span seven counties in New Mexico and seven counties in Texas and consists mostly of mountainous terrain that is home to a variety of wildlife. Hughes family: 390,000 acres in Texas. What David Pingree purchased from 100 different Maine townships in 1840 is now an ecologically managed forest supplying hardwood floors to the world. 301,500 acres Collier was the largest landholder in the state at the time of his death. The Singleton family owns 1,110,000 acres in New Mexico and California. Today, the Stimson family owns 552,000 acres, primarily in Montana and Oregon. The "9" continues under third- and fourth-generation ownership, exemplifying the ranching heritage and tradition. Family members are mostly sheep and cattle ranchers who owe some of their wealth to the discovery of uranium and coal on their property. Nuf said. 220,000 acres Doesn't just own CNN he is the largest landowner in New Mexico. Have some feedback for us? Roughly equal to: Three-quarters of Grand Canyon National Park. In 2019, D.K. At the same time they strive to help maximize potential revenue. Still, the family hasnt climbed in this years rankings. Clayton was set to bring his cowboy image to the Texas governorship until a set of gaffs derailed the campaign in 1990. Their land includes the 190,000 acre Sunlight Ranch in Montana, just outside of Yellowstone National Park. 560,000 acres The combined landholdings belonged to former Texas governor, the late Dolph Briscoe Jr. 12. 14 to 21 | Nos. John Riggs has a modern utopia in mind for his great-grandfathers old ranch. Roughly equal to: One-fifth the size of Delaware. Roughly equal to: Three times the size of Dallas. largest landowners in louisiana. For a basic sense of how the world of ultra-massive real estate has changed, heres one fact: Between 2012 and 2013, the top 100 added 700,000 acres to their collective portfolios, bringing their total to two percent of the U.S. land mass. The largest landowner in the U.S. is probably not someone you've heard of. Using data from The Land Report magazines 2018 Land Report, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 50 largest private landholders in the United States. Bezos has also invested millions of dollars into the development of Spaceport America. Irving family:1.2 million acres in Maine. 144,580 acres The founder of Southern Pine Plantations diversified from timberland in the U.S. South with the purchase of 20,000 acres of mineral rights in East Texas. 625,000 acres Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke has even more land, coming in at No. The Kokernot family's 06 Ranch brand has been registered in the state since 1837. Ford family: 580,000 acresin Oregon. 830,000 acres Background: Anne Marion is the fourth generation heir to Samuel Burnett, a cattle rancher who amassed more than a third of a million acres in Texas by the early 1900s. By the way, what is it about land that makes people want to number their children? While true to their legendary ranching roots, the heirs of King Ranch Inc. have diversified their portfolio to include land for pecans, citrus, turf grass and vegetables. Malone made his fortune as a media tycoon, building the company Tele-Communications, Inc, or TCI, and acting as its CEO before selling it to AT&T for $50 billion in 1999. Who owns the largest ranch in Montana? After his family made a killing in the oil and gas business, Dan Allen Hughes Jr. has attempted to make his name with the purchase Texas hunting land. Discover the Little-Known U.S. River Gorge That's, The 9 Best Books About National Parks for Travelers, Discover 8 Extinct Animals from New Mexico, Meet the 4 Largest Land Owners in Arizona, The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States. The family still owns most of that property. Thomas Peterffy:581,000 acres in Florida. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. John C. Malone has been in the cable. Hadley family: 260,000 acres including the huge Diamond A Ranch, which takes up a good part of New Mexico's southwestern tip. The 25 Largest Landowners In The U.S.: #25.Jeff Bezos 290,000 Acres Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos bought a 290,000 acre ranch in Texas in 2004. 150,000 acres Soloviev uses the landto grow crops like wheat, corn, and sorghum. Sounds like the perfect setting for a combination of Gunsmoke and Beverly Hills: 90210. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 239,000 acres Waggoner Estate. All told, Buck owns 925,000 acres. Land: Approximately half a million acres of timberland east of the Mississippi. This put them at the top of the list for the largest landowners in New Mexico. Kizer's farming and ranching operations produce peanuts, corn, wheat, dairy and cattle. Mmmm-mm! She runs the popular Pioneer Woman blog under the slogan, Plowing through life in the country one calf nut at a time. Which probably does not make her blog, like, particularly popular with calves. They list Daniel Harrison, III as the very private heir of his grandfathers oil and ranching empire. 40 and owning 285,000 acres equaling one-tenth the size of Connecticut, has made its fortunes from oil and cattle ranching on the land. Roughly equal to: Twice as large as Rhode Island. The Kokernot family's 06 Ranch brand registered in Texas since 1837. McDonald family: 474,000 acres in Alabama, Florida, and Oklahoma but the majority of the family's land holdings are in Maine. The Fisher family owns 440,000 acres of land, primarily timberland in northwestern California. The King Ranch heirs own a four-parcel ranch in southern Texas that spreads across 825,000 acres, making it the largest ranch in the state. 5. Ira Wines, who works the familys prized Spanish Ranch, doesnt have times for greenhorns. We can only imagine what the state will look like in the coming years! And the land, while private, is still use for commercial purposes, the 24/7 Wall Street investigation found. But did you know that relatively few people hold the reins on vast expanses of the country's pastures? The Nunleys are a ranching family particularly proud of their genetics program around Santa Gertrudis Cattle and the size of the deer on their Texas ranches.