A native of Kentucky and a resident of Tennessee is the Lone Star State’s largest landowner.
With a focus on the Trans-Pecos area of West Texas, tobacco tycoon Brad Kelley owns 940,000 acres in the state, according to the 2024 Land Report 100.
Kelley made his fortune selling the discount cigarette brand he founded, Commonwealth Brands. He has since bought and sold travel guide Lonely Planet and been involved in pursuits that include distilling spirits and thoroughbred horse breeding and racing.
The single largest ranch property within Kelley’s Texas portfolio is Brewster Ranch, a 28-property assemblage that spans about half the size of Rhode Island.
Kelley is currently looking to part with Brewster Ranch, just north of Big Bend National Park, for an asking price of more than $245 million. It is being marketed by James King of King Land & Water LLC.
Kelley’s complete United States holdings cover 1 million acres, including property in New Mexico.
The Land Report, a publication focused on the asset class of land, tabulates ownership across the country through county deed records, financial reports and corporate news releases, in addition to other research and verifications.
While a prolific landowner, Kelley is not the largest in the country, ranking at No. 9.
The Emmerson family that owns and manages Sierra Pacific Industries, a producer of lumber, millwork, windows and renewable energy, is No. 1, according to the Land Report 100.
The family reportedly has over 2.4 million total acres across California, Oregon and Washington.
The fourth-largest landowner in the U.S. has Texas ties as well.
Stan Kroenke, who owns 1.7 million acres across Texas, Wyoming and Nevada, purchased the Waggoner Ranch — about 175 miles northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth — in 2016.
