Ted Turner, Land Buyer
Atlanta Billionaire Is the Largest Private Landowner in America
The "Mouth of the South" has made large purchases of Western ranchland and critics are wondering what he has in mind: saving the environment or a greedy land grab?
Ted Turner is estimated to have a wealth of $4.8 billion, much of it initially made through advertising, cable television, and sports franchises. However, in the 20 years since his purchase of Montana’s Bar-None-Ranch, he has added the name of land entrepreneur to his resume. Since that first purchase, the Atlanta-based mogul has purchased over two million acres, most of it ranchland in Montana, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Oklahoma. In addition, Turner has acquired land holdings in Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Georgia, as well as South America.
Turner As Land Buyer
In November, 2007,the Associated Press reported on Turner’s purchases and the speculation, and even charges of conspiracy, that have risen as to what his true motives are. One belief is that Turner is trying to force neighboring ranchers and farmers out of business by hiking up the price of grass and farmlands, now estimated as being as high as $300 an acre or more in some areas. Even the ranchers and farmers, who do not believe that this is being deliberately done, point to the land prices as an example of unintended consequences. Another fueling the controversy is that he hopes to control the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground reservoir of water in the world, and vital to the often drought-stricken areas of the West. The fact that this water supply sits under most of the entire Great Plains and one-man control of it seems highly improbable does not deter the rumor. A third theory is that Turner is planning to create a vast wildlife refuge and turn it over to the federal government. Backers of this theory contend that such a plan would be dangerous and costly to the states involved as it would remove the land from their tax rolls.
Turner and Wildlife Conservation
Turner spokesmen in the same AP article and on his website , as well as Turner himself, say these ideas are nonsense and present less nefarious reasons. Several of his spokesmen claim that their boss is a serious rancher who is at the same time dedicated to conservation and the environment. They point to the fact that he has restored several number-declining species, such as bison (American buffalo), cutthroat trout, wolves, black-footed ferrets and several varieties of plants and flowers, to his land. Indeed, Turner now owns the largest number of bison in the world, some 45,000 -- most living on the 425 thousand acres covered by his Nebraska Sand Hills’ ranches. Others say that his most important motive is simply his desire to make more money. At least one New Mexico property is open to anyone willing to pay a fee of $10,000 or more to hunt elk and other properties allow controlled fishing or logging. In 2002, Turner created Ted’s Montana Grill which primarily features bison on its menu. There are now 50 of these restaurants in nineteen states.
One thing is certain. Ted Turner has often been the center of controversy and his land buying is just one more example.
