When we think of billionaires, we often picture superyachts, private islands, and extravagant spending sprees. But Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games and creator of Fortnite, has built his fortune into something far more grounded—literally.
According to reporting from as.com, Sweeney has spent nearly two decades quietly buying up land across North Carolina, not for development or commercial gain, but to protect it. Today, he owns roughly 54,000 acres across 15 counties, making him one of the state’s largest private conservationists.
Sweeney’s approach has been both strategic and generous. Through his LLC, 130 of Chatham, he has purchased large areas of ecologically valuable land and either safeguarded them himself or donated them to conservation organizations. Notably, he gifted 7,000 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2016 and another major parcel to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy five years later. In 2023, he approved a deal transferring 238 acres of rare spruce-fir forest to expand Mount Mitchell State Park.
As land prices have risen, Sweeney has shifted his focus to preserving the vast tracts he already owns, often selling them to conservation groups at a discount. His long-game strategy ensures that North Carolina’s natural landscapes will remain wild for generations to come.
