The Biggest Landowners in the World

Ever wondered who owns the largest amount of land in the world? Not so long ago, land was the most valuable asset, and to an extent still is. Although economic priorities have shifted and in the digital age, information is perhaps the most valuable asset, a number of powerful people from around the world still hold vast amounts of the world’s land.

In total, Earth has a land mass of nearly 37 billion acres of inhabitable land. 21% of all that land is owned by a handful of powerful people in key economic and political positions.

Ted Turner – the US media tycoon owns over 2 million acres of land on the US mainland, as well as about 11 thousand acres of land in Patagonia, Argentina. The founder of CNN is a keen marksman and hunter, much of his land is ground for big game hunting.

The Irving Brothers – James, Arthur and John are the biggest landowners on the US east coast. Together the brothers own over 3.6 million acres of land in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Maine. However much of the Canadian brother’s land assets were inherited not acquired in any other way.

Emir of Kuwait – Along with the throne of Kuwait, the king also inherited a total of 4.5 million acres of the country’s land mass. The overall area of the Kuwaiti kingdom is 7 billion acres, making the king the largest owner in the Arab state.

King Abdullah II of Jordan – the King who is credited as one of the much loved rulers in the Middle East (and a strong ally to the west) owns all 36 thousand square miles of land in the Kingdom of Jordan.

King Bhumibhol of Thailand – the Far East ruler owns the entire land mass of the Thai Kingdom, which totals nearly hundred and thirty million acres, including coastlines and territorial water islands. King Bhumibhol has been in power since 1950, when Kingdom Siam changed its name to Thailand.

The Pope – at the moment that is Pope Benedict, he owns a total of 110 acres in Rome which make up the Holy See and Vatican City. Along with that, he technically owns another 177 acres of land assets around the world, including the numerous Vatican City Embassies which are considered sovereign overseas ‘countries’.

Queen Elizabeth II – the British ruler owns: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, Northern Island, Falkland Islands and a bunch of other places here and there. The total land owned by The Crown adds up to 6.6 billion acres worldwide.

Imagine the man and van removal company servicing one of these people – they would have to be the most well-prepared movers in the world, not that the British Queen or King of Jordan would ever have to move, after all they could just built a new palace wherever they pleased. Nevertheless, the (non-royal) rest of the population in the world uses conventional man and van removals, so give them a go next time you move houses – it makes life easier.