The list of America’s largest landowners feels a lot like the list of teams that make the Super Bowl. It may change each year, but you can usually expect to see some familiar faces. One such face is that of Stan Kroneke: billionaire, owner of multiple professional sports teams, and now the largest private landowner in the United States.

Stan’s ascension to the top spot comes in the wake of a nearly 1 Million-acre acquisition of New Mexico ranchland south of Santa Fe in December of 2025. This purchase, the United States’ second largest in the 21st century, aligns with others made by Kroenke over the past decade as he’s expanded his organization, Kroenke Ranches, across the country.

How Much Land Does Stan Kroenke Own?

Spread throughout many different landholdings in the United States, Stan Kroenke owns an estimated 2.7 Million acres of land. The 937,000-acre Singleton Ranch in New Mexico is the latest in a string of large ranchland acquisitions made by Kroenke since 2016. Notable other purchases include the 560,000-acre Q Creek Ranch in Wyoming, the 247,000-acre Winecup Gamble Ranch in Nevada, and the country’s largest acreage under a single fence: the 535,000-acre Waggoner Ranch in Texas.

Land and Tangible Assets in 2026

While Kroenke may have his own reasons for building and expanding his ranching enterprises, these land purchases are certainly indicative of a confidence in the long-term stability of land as a vehicle to protect his investment capital.

There’s been much discussion surrounding the state of the stock market in 2026, as large tech companies and AI-investors like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI continue to generate value through speculative investing into burgeoning AI technology and infrastructure. Many financial analysts have identified the possibility of a bubble forming in the AI industry, similar to that seen in the late 90s with the Dotcom bubble, as well as the 2008 housing crisis.

With so much uncertainty in the future of this technology, as well as the revenue projections espoused by these companies over the past few years, we may be seeing more major investors and high-net-worth individuals like Kroenke emphasizing the acquisition of tangible assets like land investments in 2026. 

While always a historic hedge against inflation, land investments in 2026 may also be a good bet against the stock market and offer a more reliable or stable place for investors to park their capital while the tech market comes back down to Earth in the wake of astronomical growth projections. Of course, OpenAI and other tech frontrunners could prove analysts wrong and achieve the incredible profits they’ve projected; however, this remains to be seen. In the meantime, real estate and land investments will likely remain a stable and secure avenue for investors like Kroenke to protect their wealth.

If you’ve got questions about land investments, average property prices in your area, or anything else related to buying or selling land, get in touch with your local Land Professional today!