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Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Why Are You Buying Up So Much Farmland?' — Bill Gates Owns 275,000 Acres Across The U.S. But Says: 'There Isn't Some Grand Scheme Involved'
If you've ever joked that Bill Gates might be behind your fries, it turns out that punchline isn't too far off. While conspiracy theories swirl around burgers and billionaires, one thing's confirmed: Gates really does have a stake in America's food supply—by way of the dirt it grows from. A 2025 Land Report named him the largest private farmland owner in the U.S., with 275,000 acres under his name—248,000 acres of it active farmland across at least 17 states. That makes him No. 1 in farmland and the 43rd largest landowner overall when factoring in non-agricultural holdings. Don't Miss: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Much of that land was acquired in just a few massive transactions. As first detailed in the 2021 Land Report, Gates made major purchases between 2017 and 2018, including a $520 million deal with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and a separate $171 million acquisition of the 100 Circles Acreage in Washington's Horse Heaven Hills. Together, those deals topped $690 million and formed the foundation of his national portfolio. Other notable acquisitions include 20,000 acres across 19 Nebraska counties for $113 million, 14,828 acres in Florida, 16,097 acres in Washington, and even a lone acre in New Mexico. That same report broke down his largest state-by-state farmland holdings at the time: Louisiana – 69,071 acres Arkansas – 47,927 acres Nebraska – 20,588 acres So when a Reddit user asked him during a 2023 Reddit Ask Me Anything: "Why are you buying up so much farmland? Do you think this is a problem with billionaire wealth and how much you can disproportionately acquire?" Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Gates didn't hedge. "I own less than 1/4000 of the farmland in the US," he responded. "I have invested in these farms to make them more productive and create more jobs. There isn't some grand scheme involved—in fact, all these decisions are made by a professional investment team." His share may sound small, but with total farmland shrinking by roughly 2 million acres a year, Gates' footprint now equates to about 0.0283% of the national total. A report from Investigate Midwest revealed that Gates used more than 20 limited liability companies to acquire these properties. The same investigation also found that at least $700 million in loans were secured against the farmland—an estate planning strategy often used by ultra-wealthy individuals to access capital while deferring an appearance on the "What Now? with Trevor Noah" podcast in November 2023, Gates echoed the same message when asked why someone known for building digital empires would buy so much physical land. "Yeah, it's amazing how diversified the ownership is. I own about 1/4000 of the farmland," he said. "There's basically no big individual landowner—I own a lot, you know, it's maybe 10% of my assets. The decision to buy this land was made by people who help manage my money so that we get a good return, so that the foundation can buy more vaccines." But for someone with a known love of McDonald's, it's probably not helping that he now owns enough farmland to grow the potatoes, the wheat—and maybe even raise the cattle. Whether you see it as smart investing or eyebrow-raising consolidation, Gates' land portfolio continues to grow—one acre, one crop, one headline at a time. Read Next: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'Why Are You Buying Up So Much Farmland?' — Bill Gates Owns 275,000 Acres Across The U.S. But Says: 'There Isn't Some Grand Scheme Involved' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer over a decade ago, but it wasn't his cause of death
Val Kilmer's cause of death was pneumonia, according to his daughter. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer a decade ago and underwent a tracheotomy. The tracheotomy affected his ability to speak. The procedure can also increase the risk of pneumonia. Val Kilmer died of pneumonia on Tuesday, but his history of throat cancer — an umbrella term for cancers of the throat, voice box, head, and neck — may have been a contributing factor. Though the "Top Gun" star was diagnosed with the disease a decade ago, he initially kept it a secret. The actor, who was 65 at the time of his death, only began to speak publicly about his condition a few years later, and released a 2021 documentary "Val," in which he opened up about his health struggles, including losing his voice as a result of a tracheotomy. He used a voice box to speak in the film. Kilmer's daughter, who confirmed his death, didn't clarify whether his pneumonia was related to his cancer. However, undergoing a tracheotomy can increase the risk of pneumonia long-term according to the American Thoracic Society. The "Batman Forever" star received his diagnosis in 2014, but publicly disclosed it for the first time in a 2017 Reddit Ask Me Anything post. He had previously denied that he had cancer in 2016 after his "The Ghost and the Darkness" costar Michael Douglas revealed his health status during a press event. He later detailed his ongoing health struggle in a 2020 memoir called "I'm Your Huckleberry." Kilmer confirmed he was cancer-free in a 2021 People magazine cover story promoting his documentary; in the doc, the actor said he'd been cancer-free for about four years. Kilmer's vocal cords were damaged after a tracheotomy, and he permanently lost his voice. During a tracheotomy, also called a tracheostomy, a hole is made in the front of the neck and a tube is inserted into the windpipe. The procedure is performed on people with a problem that prevents air and oxygen from reaching the lungs. This can include throat injury (such as from radiation or trauma), or a physical blockage in the windpipe (such as from cancer). The tracheotomy tube is secured to the neck with tape, and the patient breathes through it rather than through their nose and mouth. It's common to have difficulty speaking after a tracheotomy, but not everyone loses the ability to speak permanently. However, the problem can persist in up to 25% of patients who require long-term mechanical ventilation, according to The National Tracheostomy Safety Project. In a 2020 New York Times profile of Kilmer, the actor said his cancer treatments had included surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. He suggested that damage from the chemo and radiation had resulted in his need for a tracheotomy tube. He also said that when he tried to remove the tube, he'd experience complications like a cough, cold, or fever. Read the original article on Business Insider
