Kyrie Irving is drawing attention to Bill Gates’ significant ownership of farmland and water resources across the United States. In a recent Twitch stream, the Dallas Mavericks All-Star expressed his concerns about the extent of Gates’ holdings, stating, “I still think that it’s weird that the Gates family owns a lot of the land in North Dakota. He owns the majority of the water in the United States. I think that’s weird.”
Irving’s comments have ignited a discussion on social media, leading some users to seek clarification through an AI chatbot regarding the accuracy of his statements. The AI confirmed that while Gates is indeed the largest private owner of farmland in the U.S., he owns about 270,000 acres, which equates to just 0.03% of the nation’s total farmland. Furthermore, the claim that Gates owns most of the water in the U.S. is misleading, as water rights are typically tied to specific land and are subject to regulation.
In 2022, Gates’ acquisition of 2,100 acres from a major potato grower in North Dakota sparked local controversy, although he received legal clearance to proceed. During a Reddit Ask Me Anything session around the same period, Gates clarified his position, stating his investments aim to enhance productivity and create jobs, and emphasized that decisions regarding the land are made by a professional management team.
This discourse highlights the growing scrutiny around billionaire ownership of vital resources, as well as the implications it may have on local economies and food supply. It also reveals the complexity surrounding agricultural ownership and management in the U.S., providing a platform for broader conversations on land use, sustainability, and food security.