Who Owns More Farmland: Bill Gates Or Farmland Partners?

Author: Chris Bibey | December 20, 2023 02:00pm

Bill Gates is best known for cofounding the software giant Microsoft Corp. With a net worth of somewhere in the range of $118 billion, it's safe to say that he has done well for himself. 

But there's something else you may not know. Gates has had great success investing outside of the tech industry. For example, he owns quite a bit of farmland in the United States. That's right. One of the top tech titans over the past 40+ years has invested heavily in farmland. 

How Much Farmland Does Bill Gates Own?

Gates doesn't do anything small. He's all in on every investment he makes, and that includes farmland. 

Through Cascade Investment, Gates owns roughly 242,000 acres across 19 states. That's enough to make him the largest private owner of farmland in the United States. 

As for land in general, he's the 49th-largest private owner in the United States. 

Bill Gates Vs. Farmland Partners: Who Owns More Farmland?

Farmland Partners Inc. (NYSE:FPI) is a farmland real estate investment trust REIT with a $637.629 million market cap. With that, it's the largest farmland REIT in the United States. 

The farms it operates specialize in providing agricultural products that are needed worldwide, including fiber, food, fuel and feed for farm animals and livestock.

As of Sept. 30, Farmland Partners’ portfolio included 178,216 total acres in two categories: 147,211 acres owned and 31,005 acres managed. 

This farmland is spread across 19 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.

With these numbers in mind, Gates owns approximately 63,800 more acres of farmland than Farmland Partners. 

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Posted In: FPI