These Are the 10 Largest Landowners in Illinois

Owning land in the United States has an important role in the country's economy and its history, from the sprawling ranches in Montana to expansive agricultural estates in the Midwest, the ownership of land often signifies power and influence.

Who are the 3 Largest Landowners in the World?

With the many territories and property they own around the world, the British Royal Family owns 1/6th the surface of the planet or 6,600,000,000 acres of land around the world, according to the Madison Trust Company.

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The Catholic Church is the 2nd largest landowner in the world with 177 million acres, and the Inuit people of Nunavut in Canada with 87 million acres are the 3rd largest.

Who Owns the Most Land in the United States?

The United States Government owns approximately 1/3 of land in America, about 640 million acres out of 2.3 billion, making them the largest landowner.

Other than the U.S. Government, recent data compiled by Land Report show these are the top 5 largest landowners in the country for 2024:

1. Emmerson family from Anderson, CA - owns approximately 2,411,000 acres of land.
2. John Malone - 2.2 Million Acres
3. Ted Turner - 2 Million Acres
4. Stan Kroenke - 1.7 Million Acres
5. Reed Family - 1.6 Million Acres

Who are Illinois' Largest Landowners?

The state of Illinois has approximately 37 million acres of land, just over 57,000 square miles. Who owns the most land in America's 25th-largest state?

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Major landowners in the Land of Lincoln include agricultural corporations, real estate developers, and conservation organizations.

Here's the ranking of the 10 Largest Landowners in Illinois