Gates holds about 275,000 acres of US farmland in 17 states
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
Bill Gates's investment group holds about 275,000 acres of US farmland in 17 states through Cascade and Cottonwood Ag Management, according to The Land Report and Entrepreneur. At stake for nature is which land use the holdings support, which the sources reviewed do not establish.
- Cascade Investment and Bill Gates — Control of about 275,000 acres of US farmland The Land Report
What happened
The Land Report and Entrepreneur (2023) describe Bill Gates as the largest private farmland owner in the United States, with about 275,000 acres in 17 states, about 0.03 per cent of US farmland.
Cottonwood Ag Management, a Cascade affiliate that manages the land, bought a further 8,080 acres in June 2025 for 131.4 million US dollars.
Gates said in 2021 that his investment group made the purchases and that they are not connected to climate.
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- Insufficient Reported but not verified: Cascade holds about 36.7 per cent of Republic Services, per a 2026 SEC filing.
- None on record Not known: acreage and land-use outcomes after 2023, apart from the June 2025 purchase.
- None on record Not known: the full list of entities holding the land.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Press and investigations
- Top 100 landowners: Bill GatesThe Land Report ·
- Entrepreneur article on Gates farmland holdingsEntrepreneur · 2023