How Much Of NYC Is Owned By China (2024)

The Big Apple and the Dragon: Does China Own Half of New York City (Spoiler: Not Quite)?

Ah, New York City. The city that never sleeps, the land of opportunity, and... apparently a secret haven for Chinese real estate moguls? Fear not, dear reader, because we're here to dispel the myths and separate the dim sum from the dumplings when it comes to China's ownership of the Big Apple.

Hold on, there's a rumor China owns half of NYC?

Yep, this juicy gossip has been swirling around like a rogue pigeon in Central Park. The truth is, it's more like a nibble than a whole dang apple. While Chinese investors have definitely shown interest in NYC property, especially in the glory days of the 2010s, their holdings are but a tiny fraction of the city's total landmass.

So, how much is a "tiny fraction" we're talking about?

Think acres, not boroughs. The latest reports suggest Chinese ownership hovers around 380,000 acres, which sounds impressive until you realize that's roughly twice the size of Central Park. New York City itself? A measly 193,700 acres. So, China could maybe fit two fancypants parks in NYC, not the whole dang enchilada.

But wait, aren't there all these fancy buildings with Chinese money behind them?

Sure, China has invested in some iconic NYC properties, from the Waldorf Astoria to the iconic (and slightly creepy) Chrysler Building. But these are drops in the concrete jungle that is NYC. Think of it like this: You wouldn't say you own the grocery store because you bought a carton of milk, would you?

So, can we all loosen our tinfoil hats now?

Pretty much. While foreign investment is a complex issue, China's ownership of NYC is more of a Manhattan-sized myth than a Big Apple takeover. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a slice of cheesecake (funded entirely by American dollars, thank you very much).

How Much Of NYC Is Owned By China (2024)

FAQs

How much of New York City does China own? ›

The latest reports suggest Chinese ownership hovers around 380,000 acres, which sounds impressive until you realize that's roughly twice the size of Central Park. New York City itself? A measly 193,700 acres.

Who owns most of New York? ›

The city of New York has emerged as the largest landowner in the state, with an impressive portfolio that includes 362.1 million square feet of properties and nearly 5,000 parcels of land and buildings across the city. The city has two important landmarks: the David N.

What percentage of U.S. real estate does China own? ›

As of 2021, China owned less than 1% of all foreign-held land in the U.S. Canada, by contrast, held the most at 12.8 million acres — more than the entire area of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.

Who is the largest private landowner in New York City? ›

Columbia University is the largest private landowner in New York City. The school's 320 properties are valued at almost $4 billion, and it pays very little in property taxes thanks to an exemption written into the state constitution 200 years ago.

How many square miles does China own? ›

With an area of nearly 9.6 million square kilometers (3,700,000 sq mi), it is the third-largest country by total land area. The country is divided into 33 province-level divisions: 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities, and two semi-autonomous special administrative regions.

How many corporations does China own in the United States? ›

As of the end of 2022, data indicates the operation of around 5,000 Chinese-owned companies in the United States, spanning diverse industries such as technology, manufacturing, finance, and real estate.

Who was New York originally owned by? ›

In 1664, the English took possession of New Netherland from the Dutch, renaming it New York. Ownership of New York was valuable because of its location and status as a port of commerce and trade. This Oyster Island was granted to Captain Robert Needham by the colonial Governor of New York, Richard Nicholls.

Who owns the Trump Tower in New York City? ›

The building contains the headquarters for the Trump Organization, as well as the penthouse residence of its developer, the businessman and former U.S. president Donald Trump. Several members of the Trump family also live, or have lived, in the building.

Who is New York New York owned by? ›

New York-New York Hotel & Casino is one of 20 properties owned by MGM Resorts International and VICI Properties, Inc..

How much of Disney does China own? ›

It's a joint venture with a "state-owned enterprise" — i.e., the CCP. The split? The CCP owns 57%, Disney just 43%. Do most Disney shareholders even know that fact?

What foreign country owns most land in the US? ›

Canadian investors own the most land – 31% -- followed by the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany. China ranks 18th on the list, owning 0.3% of U.S. agricultural land.

What land does China own in the US? ›

China owns 384,000 acres of American agricultural land. That's a 30% increase just since 2019. And on top of that, they own land near an air force base in North Dakota.

Who owns the most of NYC? ›

To the surprise of nobody, the City of New York is the biggest property owner in the five boroughs — with a massive 362.1 million square feet to its name, according to TRD's analysis. Think 1 Police Plaza, Stuyvesant High School and the New York Public Library building on Fifth Avenue.

Who owns more land, Columbia or NYU? ›

Columbia University is the largest landowner in New York City by number of addresses by a long shot, owning 209 properties—twice the number owned properties as the next largest private property-holder, NYU, and almost three times the 72 addresses allotted to the New York Public Library, for comparison.

What private citizen owns the most land in the US? ›

The largest private landowner in the United States is the Emmerson family, which owns and operates Sierra Pacific Industries, one of the largest lumber producers in the country.

Where are Chinese buying property in the USA? ›

Almost 40% of Chinese buyers have purchased in California. However they are also strong players in college towns, as they still prefer the American education for their kids, or in places like New York City, Florida and Texas.

Who is the Chinese billionaire in New York? ›

Prosecutors put Guo Wengui on trial in New York for defrauding investors of $1 billion. His lawyers told jurors he was building an anti-Communist movement. Michael Forsythe has reported about Guo Wengui since 2017.

How much money does China own to USA? ›

China is one of the United States's largest creditors, owning about $859.4 billion in U.S. debt.

Who is the richest between China and USA? ›

List of the World's Richest Countries in 2022: A Quick Look at the Top 10 Wealthiest Countries
CountryEconomy
United States$25.347 trillion
China$19.91 trillion
Japan$5.396 trillion
Germany$4.55 trillion
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