Out of State Resident Owns More Texas Land Than Any Texan

Texas' Top Landowner Not a Texan

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In a state known for its vast open spaces and larger-than-life personalities, the title of Texas' largest landowner belongs to an unlikely figure – a Kentucky native and Tennessee resident named Brad Kelley. This tobacco tycoon has assembled a staggering 940,000-acre empire, primarily in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas, according to the 2024 Land Report 100.

Kelley's journey to becoming the Lone Star State's preeminent landowner has been a dynamic one. Over the past two decades, his Texas holdings have fluctuated as he has acquired and sold off numerous properties. At times, his portfolio has included ecologically significant tracts like the 17,351-acre Powderhorn Ranch on Matagorda Bay.

Unlike many of Texas' other leading landowners, Kelley's approach is unique – he is more than willing to part ways with any or all of his holdings for the right price. Currently, he has more than half a million acres listed for sale, a move that defies current market trends.

"All the data from the Texas Real Estate Research Center shows how land in Texas is getting carved up into smaller and smaller tracts that sell for higher prices per acre," explains land expert Andy King. "Brad is doing just the opposite. He's buying historic ranches that have been divvied up or parceled off and aggregating them into much larger properties."

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