DES MOINES, Iowa — For decades, the title of America’s largest private landowner was a quiet tug-of-war between timber families and media moguls. But as the 2026 Land Report was unveiled this week at the annual Land Investment Expo, a new name ascended to the top of the leaderboard, signaling a seismic shift in the landscape of American wealth.
Stan Kroenke, the billionaire sports magnate and real estate developer, has officially become the largest private landowner in the United States.
A massive December 2025 acquisition of 937,000 acres from the heirs of Henry Singleton has vaulted Kroenke’s total holdings to a staggering 2.7 million acres. To put that in perspective: Kroenke now personally owns an area of land more than twice the size of the state of Delaware.
The Singleton Deal: A Once-in-a-Generation Scale
The purchase of the Singleton Ranches in New Mexico represents the largest single land transaction in the U.S. by acreage since 2011. The land was previously held by the descendants of Henry Singleton, the founder of Teledyne, who spent years meticulously assembling a patchwork of Spanish land grants and ranching territory.
While the financial details remain undisclosed, the sheer scale of the 937,000-acre transfer has redefined the “Top 100” list. Kroenke, who sat at No. 4 on the 2025 list, surpassed the Emmerson family (2.44 million acres), John Malone (2.2 million acres), and Ted Turner (2 million acres) in a single stroke.
The Kroenke Empire: From SoFi to the Sagebrush
Kroenke is best known to the public as the architect of a global sports empire under Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE). His portfolio includes:
- NFL: Los Angeles Rams
- NBA: Denver Nuggets
- NHL: Colorado Avalanche
- Premier League: Arsenal FC
- MLS: Colorado Rapids
However, his land strategy has always been a quieter, more patient pillar of his wealth. “Capital is moving into American land for a variety of reasons,” said Eric O’Keefe, editor of The Land Report. “It’s a proven return on investment in terms of slow, steady appreciation. For men like Kroenke, it’s also about legacy and the management of natural resources.”
A Portfolio of Giants
The New Mexico acquisition adds to a portfolio of legendary properties that read like a history of the American West:
- The Waggoner Ranch (Texas): Purchased in 2016, this 535,000-acre estate is the largest contiguous ranch in Texas.
- Broken O Ranch (Montana): A 124,000-acre agricultural powerhouse.
- Q Creek Land & Livestock (Wyoming): Spanning over 550,000 acres, it is one of the largest contiguous operations in the Rockies.
- Winecup Gamble Ranch (Nevada): A massive desert expanse acquired in 2019.
Why Land? The Billionaire’s Safe Haven
The trend of “land-grabbing” among the ultrarich is accelerating. According to The Land Report, the average acreage held by the top 100 landowners has jumped from 378,000 acres a decade ago to 430,000 acres today.
For Kroenke, these aren’t just vanity projects. They are working operations. His ranches are integrated into sophisticated cattle, wheat, and horse-breeding programs. Furthermore, these vast tracts offer significant opportunities for renewable energy (wind and solar) and carbon-offset credits, making them as much a “green” investment as an agricultural one.
“We are excited about integrating this second-to-none ranch with our holdings… This acquisition ties in perfectly with our cattle, wheat, horse and natural resource operations.” — Sam Connolly, General Manager of Kroenke Ranches
The Social Divide
As Kroenke’s holdings grow, so does the conversation surrounding land concentration. With 2.7 million acres in the hands of one individual, critics point to the “feudal” nature of modern American land ownership. While Kroenke’s team emphasizes stewardship and conservation, the sheer magnitude of his control over the American West is likely to fuel ongoing debates about wealth inequality and land reform in the years to come.