Stan Kroenke Becomes Largest Private Landowner in the U.S.
Stan Kroenke, the billionaire owner of major sports teams including the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Nuggets, has recently solidified his position as the largest private landowner in the United States, according to The Land Report.
With the acquisition of 937,000 acres of land in New Mexico in December, Kroenke’s total land holdings now exceed 2.7 million acres spread across the American West and Canada. This purchase marked the largest single land acquisition in the U.S. since 2011.
In addition to his vast land holdings, Kroenke also owns significant commercial space, including sports venues in Inglewood, California, and Denver, where his teams such as the LA Rams, Colorado Avalanche, and Denver Nuggets play. His sports empire extends to soccer teams in Britain as well.
Kroenke’s latest land purchase, previously owned by the heirs of tech company Teledyne founder Henry Singleton, adds to his impressive portfolio, which includes the historic Waggoner Ranch in Texas and the Broken O Ranch in Montana.
According to Eric O’Keefe, editor of The Land Report, the influx of capital into American land is driven by its proven return on investment through steady appreciation. The top 100 private landowners now hold an average of 430,000 acres, showcasing the growing trend of billionaires investing in land.
It’s worth noting that Kroenke’s land holdings surpass the entire land mass of Delaware, emphasizing the magnitude of his real estate empire.
This article was originally published in The New York Times.
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