A massive and largely undisclosed land deal has made sports mogul Stan Kroenke the largest private landowner in the United States. The transaction, revealed in recent reporting, underscores the growing consolidation of land ownership among ultra-wealthy elites while average Americans face rising housing and land costs.
According to Fox Business, Stan Kroenke now controls more than two million acres nationwide following the purchase of approximately 1.2 million acres from the historic Broken O Ranch in Montana. The deal was completed quietly, without public announcement, and significantly expanded Kroenke’s already vast land portfolio, which includes property in Wyoming, Texas, Arkansas, and other Western states.
Kroenke is best known as the owner of several professional sports franchises, including the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Avalanche. His wealth is estimated at more than $12 billion, much of it tied to real estate and large-scale land holdings. The newly acquired Montana ranchland is expected to be used primarily for cattle operations and conservation-related purposes, according to individuals familiar with the deal.
The scale of the transaction has renewed concerns about land concentration in the United States. While family farms and ranches continue to disappear under economic pressure, billionaire investors are acquiring vast tracts of land at a pace unseen in previous generations. Critics warn that this trend threatens rural communities, limits access to land for working families, and shifts control of critical natural resources into the hands of a small elite.
Supporters of private ownership argue that large landholders can provide stability, conservation investment, and long-term stewardship. However, the secrecy surrounding the deal has fueled skepticism, particularly at a time when transparency and accountability are central issues in public life.
As land ownership becomes increasingly centralized, the Kroenke deal highlights a broader question facing the nation: who controls America’s land, and what that means for its future.
