Fri Aug 01 05:00:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Kyrie Irving Raises Eyebrows with Claims About Bill Gates’ Land and Water Ownership**

**[City, State] –** Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving has sparked controversy with recent comments made during a Twitch stream, claiming that Microsoft founder Bill Gates owns a significant portion of land and water in the United States.

“I still think that it’s weird that the Gates family, Bill Gates, owns a lot of the land in North Dakota. I think that’s weird. He owns the majority of the water in the United States, I think that’s weird,” Irving stated during the stream. The comments, initially reported by Basketball Network, quickly spread online, generating both confusion and debate.

While the exact context of Irving’s statement remains unclear, his claims touch upon a verifiable trend. Gates is indeed the largest private farmland owner in the U.S., possessing roughly 275,000 acres across multiple states. This includes a controversial purchase of 2,100 acres in North Dakota in 2022.

The connection to water rights, while not as straightforward, is also a point of discussion. Author Seamus Bruner suggests that acquiring vast land holdings also grants Gates control over groundwater resources, a critical factor in the agricultural industry.

However, it’s important to note that despite being the largest private owner, Gates’ holdings represent only 0.03% of the total farmland in the U.S. In the past, Gates has stated that his investments in farmland are aimed at improving productivity and creating jobs, dismissing any “grand scheme” behind the purchases.

Irving concluded his remarks by stating that his comments were “for information purpose only.” While he didn’t explicitly elaborate on his views, the timing and nature of the statements have prompted speculation about potential underlying concerns.

Whether Irving’s comments reflect genuine concern or merely a passing observation, they’ve reignited a discussion about the increasing concentration of land ownership and the influence of wealthy individuals on essential resources.

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