What was the largest single area of land ever owned by one person in the US?

The largest single area of land ever owned by one person in the U.S. was held by John Malone, a media mogul, who owns approximately 2.2 million acres across various states, including Maine, New Mexico, and Colorado. This vast landholdings primarily consist of timberland and ranches. Malone surpassed previous record holders like Ted Turner, who owns around 2 million acres.