While no single entity or small group owns a majority of all U.S. farms, certain individuals and companies are recognized as the largest private owners of farmland by acreage in the United States. The vast majority of U.S. farms are family-owned and operated, reflecting a fragmented ownership landscape.
Understanding Farmland Ownership in the U.S.
The concept of "most of the US farms" is complex, as farm ownership in the United States is largely distributed among millions of individual and family-owned operations. It is uncommon for a single person or corporation to own a numerical majority of the nation's farms or even a dominant percentage of all agricultural land. Instead, prominent landowners are typically identified by the sheer acreage of land they control, rather than the number of individual farm units.
Largest Private Farmland Owners by Acreage
Although no single entity owns "most" of the farms, several individuals and companies hold significant agricultural land portfolios across the United States. These large-scale owners often possess diverse types of farmland, ranging from row crops to orchards and ranchland.
Here are some of the largest private farmland owners in the U.S.:
| Rank | Owner Name(s) | Noteworthy Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bill and Melinda Gates | Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, and his former wife Melinda Gates, are known for their significant farmland holdings, which are managed through various investment vehicles. |
| 2 | The Wonderful Company (Stewart and Lynda Resnick) | Owned by Stewart and Lynda Resnick, The Wonderful Company manages vast agricultural properties, primarily focusing on specialty crops such as pistachios, almonds, and pomegranates. |
| 3 | John Malone | A prominent media executive, John Malone is also one of the largest landowners in the U.S., with extensive holdings that include significant ranch and timberland. |
| 4 | Ted Turner | The founder of CNN, Ted Turner is another notable individual with vast land holdings, much of which is dedicated to conservation and ranching. |
| 5 | Stan Kroenke | Known for his sports team ownership and real estate ventures, Stan Kroenke also possesses substantial agricultural land and ranch properties. |
These individuals and entities represent some of the largest private owners of agricultural land by acreage, distinguishing them as major players in the U.S. farmland market, even as overall farm ownership remains diverse and predominantly family-based.
