Epic CEO Tim Sweeney buys 50,000 acres of North Carolina forest to protect it

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Tim Sweeney, the billionaire CEO and co-founder of Epic Games, has been using his personal wealth to purchase over 50,000 acres of forest land across 15 counties in North Carolina. Sweeney began this conservation effort in 2008 in response to the global financial crisis, when many developers abandoned housing and resort projects. His goal is to permanently protect these lands from development and preserve them for wildlife and future generations.

Why it matters

Sweeney's land acquisitions have made him one of the largest private landowners in North Carolina, allowing him to safeguard sensitive ecosystems and habitats that were at risk of being destroyed by commercial development. This represents a significant private conservation effort that complements public land protection initiatives in the state.

The details

Sweeney has used a limited liability company called "130 of Chatham" to acquire the land, which includes the 7,000-acre Box Creek Wilderness area that he purchased for around $15 million. Rather than holding onto the properties, Sweeney has been donating or selling the land at steep discounts to organizations like the US Fish and Wildlife Service, state parks, and land trusts, ensuring the land remains protected from future development.

• Sweeney began his conservation efforts in 2008 in response to the global financial crisis.
• In 2021, Sweeney donated 7,500 acres in the Roan Highlands to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, the largest private land donation in North Carolina history.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Sweeney plans to continue working to place more of the land he has acquired into permanent conservation status, either through donations or discounted sales to organizations that can ensure the land remains protected.