Several entities claim to sell land on the Moon, though their legitimacy is disputed under international law:
- Dennis Hope and the Lunar Embassy : Dennis Hope founded the Lunar Embassy in 1980 and claims to be the only company with a legal basis and copyright to sell land on the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. He filed a claim of ownership based on a loophole in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits nations from owning extraterrestrial land but does not explicitly forbid individuals from doing so. Hope's Lunar Embassy has sold millions of acres of lunar land to individuals worldwide, including celebrities and former U.S. presidents. Buyers receive a certificate of ownership and can even participate in "moon elections." Hope's company is the most prominent and widely known seller of lunar land
- The Lunar Registry : Another organization called The Lunar Registry offers lunar land for sale with properties in regions like the Sea of Tranquility and the Sea of Vapors. They present themselves as a registry administering and allocating lunar real estate for individuals and organizations globally, but their legal standing is less clear compared to the Lunar Embassy
In summary, Dennis Hope's Lunar Embassy is the most recognized and longstanding seller of Moon land, leveraging a legal loophole to claim ownership and sell plots, while other companies like The Lunar Registry also offer lunar land but without widely recognized legal claims. However, according to international space law, notably the Outer Space Treaty, no nation or individual can officially own extraterrestrial land, making these sales symbolic rather than legally enforceable property ownership.
