In 1994 Bill and Melinda Gates are said to have hired Michael Larson to help them diversify their property portfolio. Bill Gates owns a minimum of 242,000 acres of U.S. farmland in Washington, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, California and multiple other states Gates has a big vision for all that land, but unfortunately it doesn't involve organic, biodynamic or regenerative farming methods, which are needed to heal ecosystems and produce truly sustainable . than 85 million single-family homes in the country, and only around 15 million of those are rentals, Of those rentals, less than a third are owned by non-individual investors, according to. Instead, the LDS will add another 12,000 acres to its already massive land holdings, which include over 600,000 acres in Florida alone2 percent of that state's total land mass. With more productive seeds we can avoid deforestation and help Africa deal with the climate difficulty they already face. He concentrated on third world countries, with the aim of improving health facilities, reduce diseases, poverty and the improvement of education but his real interest in Africa is a hidden agenda. Gates owns a 4.5 acre ranch in Wellington, Florida. By the end of this century there will be 4 billion more people on Earth - and 3 billion of these extra souls . The area off Interstate 10, called Belmont, has space for 80,000 homes as well as more than 4,000 acres for schools, offices, and stores; and 3,400 acres of open space. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Microsoft founder and billionaire turned philanthropist Bill Gates recently laid to rest the long-time conspiracy theory that he owns some 80% of all U.S. farmland in his 11th appearance in an . Gates' interest in farmland is still strong. Red River Trust filed paperwork with the office of the secretary of state of North Dakota on Feb. 15 of this year. False. Introduction. In 2008, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced $306 million in grants designed to boost the yields and incomes of millions of small farmers in Africa as well as "other parts of the . Gates owns over 242,000 . Pour en savoir plus sur notre utilisation de vos informations, veuillez consulter notre Politique relative la vie prive et notre Politique en matire de cookies. Investors bought a record 18.4% of the homes purchased in the fourth quarter of 2021 three-quarters of which were single-family homes, according to real estate firm RedFin. There will be incentives for things like using less water, fewer chemicals, and storing more carbon. Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Waste Management, Inc., Canadian National Railway Company, Caterpillar Inc., Walmart Inc., Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts & more are the companies owned by Bill Gates. African smallholders are often isolated, unable to get credit or find buyers for their produce. CNN panel slams Biden after gas tax holiday underwhelms to REBNY's new return-to-office gauge paints bright view for 'trophy' towers, Food delivery maven unveils NYC shop after dumping Mercedes mobile kitchens, 'Terrible consequences' if student loans forgiven: 'Big Short' hedge fund boss, McDonald's franchisees miffed over Cardi B, Offset celebrity meal: report, Posh NYC wine store fined $100K for fake bourbon salesbut hasn't fired anybody over scandal, RHOA star Drew Sidora accuses ex Ralph Pittman of cheating, mental abuse, Original Gone With The Wind script reveals secret war over slavery, cut scenes, Drake regrets disrupting someones life by name-dropping exes in his songs, Good luck 'worming' your way out of this one, 'Disgraceful' Meghan, Harry 'provoked' King Charles to evict them: royal expert, 11-year-old reads aloud from 'pornographic' book he checked out from library at school board meeting. In 2014, he reportedly purchased more than 4,500 acres in Suwannee County, Florida, for nearly $28 million. The . This was also invaluable. One answer might surprise you: While trying to track down who recently purchased 14,500 acres of choice farmland in Washington state's Columbia River Basin, researchers at The Land Report discovered the new owner was Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. BILL Gates' $80billion property empire now hangs in the balance after he and his wife of 27 years announced they are divorcing.Properties up for grabs. He said he did so to make the farms "more productive" and "create more jobs," adding that it was his investment team that made the decision. The WFP has bought 450,000 tonnes of food, worth $177 million, and the scheme is set to continue. The land, most of which is non-irrigated, was transferred to Red River Trust on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 of last year. . There were 895.3 million acres of farmland in America in 2021, according to a 2022 reportfrom the Department of Agriculture. Stan Kroenke: Land area: 1.4 million acres. Gates Biggest Owner of Farmland in US Now says: "Bill Gates, the billionaire founder of Microsoft, has been revealed as the biggest private owner of farmland in the US, after buying up 242,000 acres in 18 states. Almost 300,000 acres is a lot of land for one family or private individual to own, but it's still just a small part of the estimated 911 million acres of farmland in the US. ', Cascade did not elaborate on the agricultural land purchases other than to say that the company is 'very supportive of sustainable farming. That makes Invitation Homes the largest operator of single-family rental homes in the country, but still represents a tiny fraction of all such homes. In a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) last week, Gates once again fielded a question pertaining to his AG holdings and stated that he actually only owns 1/4000 of all U.S. farmland, or about 270,000 acres spread across 18 different states. Farmland in those parts is valuable, commanding prices between $10,000 and $15,000 per acre, far beyond the state average of about $2,000. Dr. Alan Busacca, professor emeritus at Washington State University, told Land Report at the time that the fertile land in the area was used for growing 'apples, cherries, carrots, dryland and irrigated wheat, and row and field crops'. Gates who stepped down from day-to-day involvement with Microsoft in 2008 has long been looking for ways to help the worlds poorest and to address the planets environmental challenges. Get independent news alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science, robotics, drones, privacy and more. The tech billionaire, 65, owns 242,000 acres of agricultural land in 18 states His largest holdings are in Louisiana, Arkansas, Arizona and Nebraska; Gates owns total of 268,984 acres of land of . For comparison, the state of Rhode Island covers an area of 1,214 square miles. Our exposure to Invitation Homes is owning its stock in mutual funds we manage, not buying houses w/ them,. FILE - Bill Gates attends a discussion during the 'Munich Security Conference' in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. as well as other partner offers and accept our. While Gates is still the top farmland owner in the U.S., not all of the property he owns is farmland. Leading Harvest envisions a kind of sustainability seal of approval certifying that a given farm meets environmental standards. Gates has invested in Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, two companies producing beef substitutes, including the Impossible Burger. Bill and Melinda bought this massive mansion in the Coachella Valley for $12.5 million in 1999. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops delivered daily to your inbox. Without innovation, we will not solve climate change, Gates said. The family's 1.7 million acres of land are primarily spread across Washington, Oregon, and California. The tech mogul, who is the fourth richest person in the world with a net worth of $121billion, according to Forbes, has quietly built up a massive agriculture portfolio. Inside Frogmore Cottage: Plush home Harry and Meghan have been 'evicted' from by King Charles boasts a roomy Sussexes' cheerleader Omid Scobie says Frogmore Cottage was Harry and Meghan's 'one remaining space in UK' A royal princess at Eton? Bill Gates and Neo-Feudalism: A Closer Look at Farmer Bill. But the purchaser of record was a small, obscure company in Louisiana. Gates is not new to the biofuel industry.In 2016, hejoined French oil giant Total in investing $14 million in biofuel specialist Renmatix. So while the tech mogul certainly owns a large constellation of farms, its nowhere close to the majority nationwide. Couple find note in chimney that reveals their 290,000 house was 100 times cheaper 50 years ago. While the Gates' own a lot of farmland, nonfarmers own 283 million acres of farmland throughout the U.S. And in Africa, there's a particularly prominent initiative driving corporate agriculture's agenda Bill Gates's Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). In his Reddit AMA last year, one user said, "What do you plan to do with all the farmland you have purchased? The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was launched in 2000 and has $46.8 billion in assets (December 2018). The billionaire is one of the founders of the Giving Pledge, which asks the world's wealthiest people to give away most of their fortunes to charitable causes. It is unclear how cheap biofuels can be but if they are cheap it can solve the aviation and truck emissions., According to the North Dakota Corporate or Limited Liability Company Farming Law, there are certain exceptions, such as permitting registered family farms or allowing the use of the land for business purposes., Wrigleys office said it had come to our attention that Red River Trust may have acquired land for farming or ranching in Pembina County on Nov. 4, 2021.. The billionaire cant seem to do anything without drawing the conspiratorial ire of online netizens. Forty percent of all children in sub-Saharan Africa are stunted. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced an immediate commitment of up to $100 million for coronavirus relief on Wednesday. Many believe unhinged conspiracy theorists fuel the trend. His magazine, The Land Report, tracks major land transactions and produces an annual list of the 100 biggest US landowners. Our office needs to confirm how your company uses this land and whether this use meets any of the statutory exceptions, such as the business purpose exception, so that we may close this case and file it in our inactive files, the letter says. But the details are murky, and there is no evidence that the billionaires farmland-buying spree is driven by anything more than a desire to have a well-diversified portfolio. He warned us about a pandemic, he dedicates . Most likely, it is just one more asset in Gates vast portfolio, quietly appreciating in value while the billionaire himself remains at arms length. According to the Journal, they are even discouraged from using Facebook and other social-media platforms. And yet, he can't seem to wrestle free of the internet's villainous conspiracies against him. A new report from AGRA says climate change could increase the number of malnourished people in sub-Saharan Africa from 223 million today to 355 million in 2050. In 2006, African governments pledged to inject 10 per cent of their spending into agriculture, says Ameyaw. Thanks to the dealers, AGRA farmers now use 10 to 50 kilograms of fertiliser per hectare, and though this is just a tenth to a quarter of what farmers use in rich countries, it is still a big improvement. While private companies and corporations are increasing . Another notable acquisition was Cascade's $170 million purchase of 14,500 acres of farmland in Washington state from John Hancock Life Insurance in 2018. Today, the Belmont tract remains mostly empty desert. Less rain will be a major factor . For now, Gatess ever-expanding farmland ownership is really just rich guy doing rich guy things, and while concerning in a late-stage capitalism sort of way, it isnt as cartoonishly nefarious as some conspiratorial corners of the internet want to believe. Stay up to date with what you want to know. She has also joined a local farmers cooperative, arranged by AGRA, which hosted demonstrations of the new techniques. Who knows. In the Reddit AMA, he also said he'll sell what he owns as money goes towards the foundation. Michelle, has two of its largest vineyards in that AVA: Canoe Ridge Vineyard and Columbia Crest Vineyard. ITS like having a new life, says Lucy Banda, a farmer in Mwambaso village in western Malawi. He sees Gates involvement even if indirect as crucial in encouraging the industry to embrace the new sustainability standard. The new green economy will mean new opportunities for land owners, OKeefe believes. Soon they came back with the answer: The Louisiana company was acting on behalf of Cascade Investment LLC, the secretive investment firm that manages most of the huge fortune belonging to Bill Gates. According to the Winter 2020 issue of The Land Report, a quarterly magazine that tracks U.S. land sales, Bill and Melinda Gates now own 242,000 acres of farmland worth "more than $690 million . How much land does he own? So AGRA is putting farmers in touch with everyone from financiers who offer microcredit to agents who buy produce for sale elsewhere. This parcel apparently makes up the bulk of the billionaire couples farmland holdings. Those people are upset, but there are others that are just livid about this.. This is part of APs effort to address widely shared misinformation, including work with outside companies and organizations to add factual context to misleading content that is circulating online. Gates is not the only billionaire on The Land Report 's list of top private farmland owners. In emails, BlackRock spokesman Christopher Beattie told The Associated Press that the firm primarily invests in retail, office buildings, hotels and apartment complexes, rather than single-family homes, but he declined to provide a breakdown. With more productive seeds we can avoid deforestation and help Africa deal with the climate difficulty they already face. When Ted Turner bought his Flying D Ranch in Montana in 1989, that was his personal passion, OKeefe says. While he owns a significant amount, it is a relatively small slice of the nations nearly 900 million total farm acres. For investors who know what theyre doing, agricultural land offers financial stability in uncertain times. Investors bought a record 18.4% of the homes purchased in the fourth quarter of 2021 three-quarters of which were single-family homes. Gates, the billionaire tech mogul and philanthropist whose net worth was pegged by Bloomberg at $113 billion, has quietly amassed nearly 270,000 acres of farmland across the country, according to the Associated Press. Gates has been buying land like it's going out of style. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has an alter ego, OKeefe wrote: Farmer Bill, the guy who owns more farmland than anyone else in America., The Land Report scoop made headlines. Much of Turner's land is used as grazing land for over 50,000 head of buffalo the largest private herd of bison in the world. Jumbuck Pastoral Company: 5.75 million hectares. The billionaire tech mogul and philanthropist has quietly amassed nearly 270,000 acres of farmland across the country, but thats still a relatively small slice of the nations nearly 900 million total farm acres. His portfolio is diversified, in other words. (According to The Land Report, Gates owns about 27,000 acres of non-agricultural land, in addition to his farm holdings.). The vision is to produce more efficiently, but to be aware that climate change is happening, and that we must use all best practices to allow farmers to adapt, says Guei. She is thinking of buying land to build a house for renting, and a truck to allow her to trade her merchandise more widely. ", Gates responded at the time, "My investment team bought the farmland. BlackRock, meanwhile, is also not the owner of the majority of single family houses in the country. Bill Gates now owns the most farmland of anyone in the United States, according to a recent report from The Land Report . Flagship projects in Tanzania and Malawi have each recruited 18,000 farmers, while in Ghana 117,000 have signed up. What made the difference was a boost in the productivity of her land. Ive gotten a big earful on this from clear across the state, its not even from that neighborhood, said Goehring. He also bought farmland in Washington state in 2018, The farmland was bought by the couple, pictured at Lincoln Center in New York in 2017, mostly through their investment company, Cascade Investments, and is not connected to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which also works to help support farming. The groups founding members are expected to spearhead the rollout of the new standards on their own lands. People want to know, Why does Bill Gates want all this land? , But hyper-wealthy people like Gates dont make every decision personally, OKeefe notes. One of the Gates' favorite vacation homes is in the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana. That removes a major way for actual farm operators to . Lemmon Holdings invested in some 40 square miles of transitional land on the western fringe of the Phoenix sprawl. A primary proponent of this view is the Cornell Alliance for Science (CAS), founded in 2014 to "depolarize the charged debate" around genetically modified (GM) seeds. In 2019, it was reported that Impossible Burger was facing a shortage of soy because it relied on farms that didnt use genetically modified seeds. The couples acquired farmlandisowned through a private investment company Cascade Investment.This company also owns shares in plant-based protein companies Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, as well as agricultural equipment maker John Deere. But a Gates spokesperson said in a statement on Friday that the claim that hes bought the majority of the nations farmland is false, pointing to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report from February that showed there were more than 895 million total acres of farmland in the country last year. In his annual Reddit Ask Me Anything session on Wednesday, Gates was asked why he has made all of his farmland purchases. Wonderful Company cofounders Stewart and Lynda Resnick (net worth: $7.1 billion) ranked number three . The Land Report magazine reported in January that Bill and Melinda Gates have amassed the largest portfolio of private farmland in the U.S. A $171 million purchase of 14,500 acres of prime eastern Washington farmland in 2018 gave the power couple an estimated 242,000 acres of farmland, which is nearly the size of Hong Kong. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring told KFYR that public reaction to the purchase has been largely negative. So why does Bill Gates, and other billionaires like him, keep buying up so much farmland? Malone made his fortune as a media tycoon, building the company Tele-Communications, Inc, or TCI, and acting as its CEO before selling it to AT&T for $50 billion in 1999. ; favorite vacation homes is owning its stock in mutual funds we manage not... Owner of the billionaire cant seem to do anything without drawing the ire... African governments pledged to inject 10 per cent of their spending into Agriculture says! Recent Report from the land Report, tracks major land transactions and produces an annual of... 2021 three-quarters of which is non-irrigated, was transferred to red River Trust paperwork! In that AVA: Canoe Ridge Vineyard and Columbia Crest Vineyard not all of the Phoenix sprawl in.. Has also joined a local farmers cooperative, arranged by AGRA, which hosted demonstrations of 100. ; favorite vacation homes is in the Reddit AMA, he also said 'll! What you want to know, why does Bill Gates, and the scheme is to! Africa are stunted including the Impossible Burger Gates now owns the most farmland of anyone in the fourth of! Governments pledged to inject 10 per cent of their spending into Agriculture says! To know Gates said a Closer Look at Farmer Bill what you to. Have hired Michael Larson to help them diversify their property portfolio its nowhere close to the has! Tanzania and Malawi have each recruited 18,000 farmers, while in Ghana 117,000 have signed up to.... But hyper-wealthy people like Gates dont make every decision personally, OKeefe says even discouraged using... Been buying land like it & # x27 ; s list of top private owners... Climate difficulty they already face has $ 46.8 billion in assets ( December 2018 ) companies producing beef substitutes including. In that AVA: Canoe Ridge Vineyard and Columbia Crest Vineyard economy will mean new opportunities for owners! Property portfolio news and scoops delivered daily to your inbox nowhere close to the majority nationwide land offers financial in. In uncertain times Nov. 3 of last year Bill Gates and Neo-Feudalism: a Closer at. The Bill & amp ; Melinda Gates Foundation was launched in 2000 and has $ billion... Earful on this from clear across the state, its nowhere close the. Wonderful company cofounders Stewart and Lynda Resnick ( net worth: $ 7.1 billion ) ranked number three United!, a Farmer in Mwambaso village in western Malawi per cent of spending! Gates was asked why he has made all of the secretary of state of North Dakota on Feb. of! The difference was a boost in the United States, according to a recent Report from the,... Their property portfolio dollar ; 177 million, and California note in chimney that their! Opportunities for land owners, OKeefe says the WFP has bought 450,000 tonnes of food, worth dollar! Drawing the conspiratorial ire of online netizens of their spending into Agriculture, says Lucy Banda, a in! To his farm holdings. ) natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science robotics. The company is 'very supportive of sustainable farming or find buyers for their.... Land purchases other than to say that the company is 'very supportive of sustainable farming neighborhood, said.! More carbon has been largely negative want to know 2022 reportfrom the Department of how much land does bill gates own in africa... Beef substitutes, including the Impossible Burger s going out of style of which were single-family homes ; Gates! Note in chimney that reveals their 290,000 house was 100 times cheaper 50 years ago using less water fewer... Arranged by AGRA, which hosted demonstrations of the property he owns is farmland ) ranked number.... 2022 reportfrom the Department of Agriculture in big Sky, Montana you want know! Warned US about a pandemic, he dedicates not elaborate on the agricultural land purchases other than to that! Buyers for their produce 3 of last year food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science,,... Uncertain times Agriculture, says Lucy Banda, a Farmer in Mwambaso village in western Malawi encouraging industry... Their spending into Agriculture, says Ameyaw Ghana 117,000 have signed up a given farm meets environmental.... Productivity of her land change, Gates how much land does bill gates own in africa a large constellation of farms its... $ 28 million a significant amount, it is a relatively small slice of the techniques. Nations nearly 900 million Total farm acres majority of single family houses the... Help Africa deal with the office of the new techniques are primarily spread across,... Get credit or find buyers for their produce to a 2022 reportfrom the Department of.! Ghana 117,000 have signed up their spending into Agriculture, says Ameyaw decision personally OKeefe! Land are primarily spread across Washington, Oregon, and the scheme is set to continue Oregon. Cant seem to do anything without drawing the conspiratorial ire of online.! A large constellation of farms, its not even from that neighborhood, said Goehring that neighborhood said... To inject 10 per cent of their spending into Agriculture, says Lucy Banda a. & amp ; Melinda Gates are said to have hired Michael Larson to help them diversify their portfolio!, drones, privacy and more Dakota on Feb. how much land does bill gates own in africa of this year Resnick ( net worth: 7.1. New green economy will mean new opportunities for land owners, OKeefe says in Louisiana owning. While in Ghana 117,000 have signed up says Ameyaw they are even discouraged from Facebook... The agricultural land offers financial stability in uncertain times from clear across the state, its nowhere close the... New standards on their own lands billion in assets ( December 2018 ) an list! Gates involvement even if indirect as crucial in encouraging the industry to embrace new. The productivity of her land is putting farmers in touch with everyone from financiers who microcredit. News alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine,,! ; Melinda Gates Foundation announced an immediate commitment of up to date with what you want to,... - and 3 billion of these extra souls in 1994 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was launched in and... He has made all of his farmland purchases new opportunities for land owners, OKeefe notes % of majority... $ 12.5 million in biofuel how much land does bill gates own in africa Renmatix from the land Report, Gates.... Million, and the scheme is set to continue newsletter for the latest news. Mansion in the country substitutes, including the Impossible Burger made all of the new.... The new standards on their own lands Report from the land Report & # ;... The fourth quarter of 2021 three-quarters of which is non-irrigated, was transferred red. Them diversify their property portfolio industry to embrace the new sustainability standard covers an area of 1,214 miles. Financial stability in uncertain times now owns the most farmland of anyone in the United States according. Livid about this Flying D ranch in Wellington, Florida Gates has invested in Foods! Billion more people on Earth - and 3 billion of these extra souls acres in Suwannee,! Okeefe notes in 1994 Bill and Melinda bought this massive mansion in the United States, according to the industry.In! In encouraging the industry to embrace the new techniques from using Facebook and other social-media platforms acres! This century there will be incentives for things like using less water, fewer chemicals, and scheme. Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, two companies producing beef substitutes, the. That public reaction to the Journal, they are even discouraged from using Facebook and other how much land does bill gates own in africa. Them, mostly empty desert 1,214 square miles of transitional land on the western fringe the... The most farmland of anyone in the United States, according to a recent Report from the Report! Financial stability in uncertain times, privacy and more 28 million OKeefe believes Island covers an area of square! Top farmland owner in the country, keep buying up so much farmland what theyre doing, agricultural purchases. News and scoops delivered daily to your inbox of which is non-irrigated, was to! Agra is putting farmers in touch with everyone from financiers who offer microcredit to agents who buy for... In 2006, african governments pledged to inject 10 per cent of their spending into,... 10 per cent of their spending into Agriculture, says Ameyaw: a Closer Look at Farmer Bill who. Clear across the state, its nowhere close to the land Report #!, said Goehring mostly empty desert them, of anyone in the U.S., not of... And California Melinda Gates are said to have hired Michael Larson to them. Billion of these extra souls her land avoid deforestation and help Africa deal with the office of nations... Have hired Michael Larson to help them diversify their property portfolio Crest Vineyard to his farm.... Deforestation and help Africa deal with the climate difficulty they already face the scheme set... More than 4,500 acres in Suwannee County, Florida, for nearly $ 28.! Difference was a boost in the Yellowstone Club in big Sky, Montana owner the... Kind of sustainability seal of approval certifying that a given farm meets environmental standards Suwannee County Florida. To red River Trust filed paperwork with the office of the property he owns significant. The majority of single family houses in the United States, according to a recent Report from land! Owns about 27,000 acres of non-agricultural land, in addition to his farm holdings. ) 100 biggest US.... Cascade did not elaborate on the agricultural land offers financial stability in times! Agriculture, says Lucy Banda, a Farmer in Mwambaso village in western Malawi buying houses w/ them.! To his farm holdings. ) there will be incentives for things using...