Land ReportNo. 1 John Malone, 2,200,000 acres
John Malone’s love of land may well be equaled by his wife Leslie’s love of horses. Fortunately for the two, the couple seems to have a knack for agreeing on properties where both features are a priority — wide-open spaces like New Mexico’s legendary Bell Ranch. This year the Denverites celebrated their shared passions with several acquisitions, including a historic Irish castle just outside Dublin and not one but two properties in Wellington, the epicenter of South Florida’s equestrian community.
The Malones’ new Irish estate is Humewood Castle. Built in 1867, Humewood sits on 427 acres and is tucked in a convenient corner of Ireland in County Wicklow. In addition to the regal 38,000-squarefoot castle, the estate also features three staff cottages, three gate lodges, parklands, woods, lakes, and, of course, stables. There must always be stables. According to The Irish Times, the Malones paid €7.23 million ($9.5million) for Humewood. The estate was originally listed for €8 million with Sherry FitzGerald and Christie’s International Real Estate. Back in 2006 when the Celtic Tiger was roaring, Humewood traded hands for a record €25 million. Thanks to the Great Recession, however, a planned $330 million golf development never made it off the tee box.
On this side of the pond, the Malones bought a $7.8-million Provençal-style home at the western edge of Palm Beach County in Wellington. And the stables, you ask? According to The Wall Street Journal, the 12,653-square-foot residence is just a gallop away from the 123-acre horse farm the Malones bought for $12.5 million.
THE FULL LIST: AMERICA’S TOP 100 LANDOWNERS 2013
1. John Malone
2. Ted Turner
3. Emmerson Family
4. Brad Kelley
5. Irving family
6. Singleton Family
7. King Ranch Heirs
8. Stan Kroenke
9. Pingree Heirs
10. Reed Family
11. Ford Family
12. Lykes Heirs
13. Briscoe Family
14. W.T. Waggoner Estate
15. D.M. O’Connor Heirs
16. Philip Anschutz
17. Drummond Family
18. Simplot Family
19. Holding Family
20. Malone Mitchell 3rd
21. Hughes Family
22. Patrick Broe
23. Collins Family
24. Nunley Family
25. Jeff Bezos
26. Collier Family
27. H.L. Kokernot Heirs
28. Wilks Brothers
29. Anne Marion
30. Babbitt Heirs
31. Mike Smith
32. Lyda Family
33. Jones Family
33. Killam Family
33. True Family
36. Reynolds Family
37. Paul Fireman
38. D.K. Boyd
39. Koch Family
40. McCoy & Remme Families
40. Llano Partners, Ltd.
42. Scott Heirs
43. Louis Moore Bacon
44. East Wildlife Foundation
45. Gage Heirs
46. Cassidy Heirs
47. Bidegain Family
47. Langdale Family
47. Eugene Gabrych
50. Bogle Family
51. Hunt Family
52. Tim Blixseth
53. Williams Family
54. Robert Funk
55. Russell Gordy
56. Broadbent Family
56. Irwin Heirs
58. Sugg Family
59. Fasken Family
60. Mike Mechenbier
61. Benjy Griffith III
62. Cogdell Family
63. JA Ranch Heirs
64. Fanjul Family
65. Hearst Family
66. Ellison Family
67. Bass Family
67. Emily Garvey Bonavia
67. Boswell Family
67. Eddy Family
67. William Henry Green Heirs
67. King Brothers
73. David Murdock
74. Wells Family
75. L-A-D Foundation
76. Gerald J. Ford
77. Stefan Soloviev
78. Harrison Family
78. Lane Family
80. Crosby Family
81. Ellwood Heirs
81. Monahan Family
83. Davis Heirs
84. Booth Family
84. Brite Heirs
86. Reese Family
87. Milliken Family
88. Roxanne Quimby
89. Moursund Family
90. Scharbauer Family
91. Richard Evans
92. Clayton and Modesta Williams Jr.
93. Stan Harper
94. Frank VanderSloot
95. Linnebur Family
96. Arthur Nicholas
97. Robinson Family
98. Riggs Family
99. Butler Heirs
100. Beggs Family
100. Powell Family
100. Walter Umphrey