Bill Gates is estimated to own about 275,000 acres of U.S. farmland , which makes him one of the largest private farmland owners in the country, but nowhere near owning “most” land overall. Some recent coverage also puts his farmland holdings around 250,000 to 275,000 acres depending on the source and year of the estimate.

What that means

  • Farmland, not total land: The figure most people cite is his farmland portfolio, not every kind of land he owns.
  • Scale: 275,000 acres is a huge amount for one private person, but it is still a small fraction of total U.S. farmland.
  • Not the biggest landowner overall: Reports in 2026 say Stan Kroenke owns far more private land overall than Gates.

Why the number varies

Different reports use different snapshots, and Gates’ holdings can change as land is bought or sold through entities tied to him. Older estimates were closer to 242,000 acres or 269,000 acres , while newer reporting often rounds to 275,000 acres.

Quick answer

If you want the simplest version: Bill Gates owns roughly 275,000 acres of farmland in the U.S.