While there are a significant number of CRE properties, ownership of them tends to be concentrated in the hands of two types of investment firms, REITs and Private Equity. REITs alone are estimated to own 500,000 properties with an aggregate value of $3.5 trillion.
CBRE Investment Management currently tops the list of leading commercial property owners, with more than 321 million square feet of property owned across a diverse array of asset types 2. Their portfolio includes office, industrial, retail, hospitality, and numerous other properties.
CBRE Group, Inc. (an initialism of Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis) is an American commercial real estate services and investment firm. It is the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2022 revenue).
Top 10 Largest Real Estate Owners in the World #1: King Charles III. (British Crown) – 6.6 Billion Acres. #2: The Catholic Church – 177 Million Acres. #3: McDonald's – 47,000 Acres. #4: John Malone – 2.2 Million Acres. #5: Ted Turner – 2 Million Acres. #6: The Government of Saudi Arabia – Vast State-Owned Land.
King Charles III, representing the British Crown, holds dominion over a staggering 6.6 billion acres of land, making the British Royal Family the largest landowner in the world. This includes vast swaths of Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth realms.