Ladd Drummond: The Man Behind The Ranch And A $200 Million Empire

So, Just How Much is Ladd Drummond Worth Anyway?

Let’s talk about Ladd Drummond, the man who's not only a fourth-generation cattle rancher but also the proud owner of a $200 million net worth. He’s the husband of Ree Drummond, better known to millions as The Pioneer Woman. Together, they’ve turned life on their sprawling Oklahoma ranch into a multi-million-dollar empire. The Drummonds live in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where they've built a legacy that goes far beyond cattle ranching.

Ree, Ladd’s wife, runs the wildly popular blog, The Pioneer Woman, which has grown into a full-fledged empire. Her blog has inspired best-selling cookbooks, a hit Food Network show, and even a collection of businesses right in downtown Pawhuska. But here’s the thing—Ladd’s family is no small potatoes in the landowning world. The Drummond family ranks as the 23rd largest landowner in the U.S., with a staggering 433,000 acres spread across 675 square miles. And if that’s not impressive enough, they’ve received over $24 million from the U.S. government over the past decade, mainly to ensure the protection of wildlife on their land.

Growing Up Drummond: Ladd’s Early Life

Ladd Drummond’s story begins in Nebraska, where he was born into a family of cattle ranchers. He’s one of three sons—Todd, Tim, and Ladd—but tragically, his oldest brother, Todd, was killed in a car accident at just 18 years old. Todd had been working on a family friend's ranch in Texas when the accident happened, a loss that deeply affected the family. Ladd went on to graduate from Arizona State University, where he studied before returning to the family business. As a fourth-generation cattle rancher, ranching is in Ladd’s blood, and it’s a way of life he’s carried forward with pride.

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The Drummond Fortune: A Legacy of Land and Livestock

Now, let’s dive into the Drummond family’s business empire. Ladd and his brother Tim co-own Drummond Land & Cattle Co., a company founded by their great-grandfather, Fred Drummond, back in the late 1800s. Fred, originally from Scotland, married Addie Gentner from Kansas, and together they laid the foundation for a cattle empire that’s lasted for generations. Today, the company is owned by just four people, making it a tightly held family operation.

When Ladd met Ree, he was already knee-deep in the cattle ranching business. But Ree’s rise to fame brought new opportunities for the Drummond family. Her blog evolved into a media powerhouse, and Ladd played a key role in expanding their ventures into Pawhuska’s downtown scene. In 2016, they opened The Merc, a restaurant and retail store housed in a historic 100-year-old building they renovated. And that’s just the beginning. The Drummonds also opened The Boarding House, a charming bed and breakfast, along with P-Town Pizza and Charlie’s Sweet Shop, an ice cream parlor—all adding to the charm of their small-town life.

A Life Together: Ladd and Ree’s Personal Journey

Ladd and Ree’s love story started in the mid-1990s, in a bar of all places. Ree, fresh off her post-college years in Los Angeles, had moved back to Oklahoma and was planning to attend law school in Chicago. But fate had other plans. They married on September 21, 1996, and their wedding reception was a memorable one. While guests celebrated, Ladd was glued to the men’s locker room TV, watching his alma mater, Arizona State, take on Nebraska, the defending national champions. ASU won, and so did Ladd that day.

The newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Australia before settling into their life on a remote working cattle ranch, about eight miles west of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Their home is a peaceful retreat, set against the backdrop of wide-open prairies and rolling hills. Ladd and Ree have four children: Alex, born in 1997; Paige, born in 1999; Bryce, born in 2002; and Todd, born in 2004. The Drummonds homeschool their kids from kindergarten through high school, giving them a unique education tailored to their rural lifestyle. Alex is now a graduate of Texas A&M, while Paige is pursuing her studies at the University of Arkansas.

And if you’re wondering about their hobbies, the Drummond family loves fantasy football. It’s a passion that brings them together, even when they’re not out on the ranch. But don’t think they’re just a TV-watching family. The Drummonds gained national fame when they starred in the reality TV series The Pioneer Woman, which premiered on the Food Network in 2011 and has run for over 25 seasons. Their charming personalities and down-to-earth lifestyle have made them a favorite with audiences everywhere.

Government Checks: The Drummond’s Role in Wildlife Protection

Drummond Land & Cattle Co. isn’t just about cows and land. The company also plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation. Each year, they receive around $2 million from the U.S. government’s Bureau of Land Management to care for wild horses and burros on their property. Since December 2006, the Bureau has paid the Drummond Land & Cattle Co. a whopping $23.9 million. While the company’s annual revenue is around $2.5 million, these government payments underscore the Drummonds’ commitment to preserving the natural beauty of their land and the creatures that call it home.

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