These are the 5 biggest landowners in the world (2024)

reading duration

2 min.

related tags

Nature, Agriculture, Land, Luxury

author

Anne Jan Doorn, boerenbusiness.nl

Land is a sought-after property, and very important for farmers. However, there are also many actors outside the agricultural sector for whom land is important, but there are quite a few farmers in the list of largest landowners.

However, the list of largest landowners below is disproportionate to the Dutch areas. However, it is the poor comfort for farmers in the Netherlands that the land price is nowhere higher than in the Netherlands.

These are the 5 biggest landowners in the world (3)

1. Roman Catholic Church: 70 million hectares

The largest landowner in the world is not a major oil magnate or a real estate investor. No, it's the Roman Catholic Church. According to lovemoney.com, the church owns more than 70 million hectares. An area that is larger than France. It is not just about agricultural land, but also about land in the most expensive locations in London, Paris and New York.

2. Gina Rinehart: 12 million hectares

If we have to appoint 1 person who has the most land in the world, we will end up with Gina Rinehart. She is the richest woman in Australia, and in 2012 she was the richest woman in the world. As a mining magnate, she has a huge amount of land in Australia and the United States (US). The land in her possession is used, among other things, for keeping cattle of the Wagyu breed. Her agricultural land portfolio has expanded considerably in recent years.

These are the 5 biggest landowners in the world (4)

3. Chinese dairy farmer: 9 million hectares

The largest agricultural landowner is the Chinese dairy farm 'Mudanjiang City Mega Farm', which is owned by Russian and Chinese owners. More than 9 million hectares belong to the company. This is a piece of land that is larger than Portugal and 100,000 cows are kept on the farm and around 800 million liters of milk are produced annually.

4. Australian Agricultural Company: 7 million hectares

The Australian Agricultural Company, Australia's oldest agricultural company, owns no less than 7 million hectares of land. This mainly concerns cattle farming. The largest shareholder in this company is the British Joe Lewis, the number 12 in the list of the richest people in the UK.

These are the 5 biggest landowners in the world (5)

5. Jumbuck Pastoral Company: 5.75 million hectares

The last one in this top 5 of the largest landowners is once again a large Australian farmer. Jumbuck Pastoral Company is owned by the MacLachlan family. The company is the largest producer of wool in Australia. Landowners in the US also have a huge amount of land; think of media magnate John Malone, who owns nearly 1 million hectares. The largest arable farm would be the Brazilian 'El Tejar', where almost 1.1 million hectares of soy and maize are grown. They are numbers that are far from the Dutch farmer. The areas of the largest arable farms in the Netherlands do not exceed 2,000 hectares.

related tags

I am an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the topics of landownership, agriculture, and the interplay between nature and luxury. My expertise is built on a comprehensive knowledge base, incorporating information up to my last update in January 2022.

In the article by Anne Jan Doorn on boerenbusiness.nl, the focus is on the significance of land, particularly in the context of agriculture and luxury. The author highlights the disproportionate distribution of land ownership in the Netherlands compared to global figures. Let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the article:

  1. Land Importance in Agriculture: The article emphasizes the critical role of land for farmers, underlining its significance as a sought-after property. It points out that, despite the importance of land for various sectors, farmers are not predominant among the world's largest landowners.

  2. Largest Landowners: The article identifies and provides details about the top five largest landowners globally:

    • Roman Catholic Church: Owning over 70 million hectares, the Church is the world's largest landowner. This includes not only agricultural land but also valuable locations in major cities like London, Paris, and New York.

    • Gina Rinehart: As the richest woman in Australia, Rinehart owns 12 million hectares, making her the largest individual landowner. Her land holdings are primarily in Australia and the United States, used for activities such as cattle farming with the Wagyu breed.

    • Chinese Dairy Farmer - Mudanjiang City Mega Farm: This joint Russian and Chinese-owned company owns more than 9 million hectares, making it the largest agricultural landowner. The farm, specializing in dairy production, accommodates around 100,000 cows and produces approximately 800 million liters of milk annually.

    • Australian Agricultural Company: Australia's oldest agricultural company possesses 7 million hectares, predominantly used for cattle farming. Notably, the British businessman Joe Lewis is the largest shareholder in this company.

    • Jumbuck Pastoral Company: Owned by the MacLachlan family, this Australian company holds 5.75 million hectares and is the largest producer of wool in Australia.

  3. Global Landownership Beyond the Top 5: The article briefly mentions other significant landowners, including media magnate John Malone in the U.S. and the Brazilian 'El Tejar,' the largest arable farm cultivating soy and maize on nearly 1.1 million hectares.

  4. Land Prices in the Netherlands: While the Netherlands lacks representation in the list of largest landowners, the article notes that the land prices in the country are exceptionally high.

  5. Related Tags: The article is associated with tags such as Nature, Agriculture, Land, and Luxury, highlighting the interconnectedness of these themes in the context of landownership.

In conclusion, this article provides valuable insights into global landownership, emphasizing the diverse uses of land ranging from agriculture to luxury properties. The disparity in land prices and ownership is a key point of discussion, showcasing the multifaceted importance of land in various sectors.

These are the 5 biggest landowners in the world (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6130

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.