וַיִּ֨קֶן יוֹסֵ֜ף אֶת־כָּל־אַדְמַ֤ת מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לְפַרְעֹ֔ה כִּֽי־מָכְר֤וּ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ אִ֣ישׁ שָׂדֵ֔הוּ כִּֽי־חָזַ֥ק עֲלֵהֶ֖ם הָרָעָ֑ב וַתְּהִ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ לְפַרְעֹֽה׃
So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine was sore upon them; and the land became Pharaoh’s.
Rashi on Genesis
ותהי הארץ לפרעה SO THE LAND BECAME PHARAOH’S — possessed by him.
Malbim on Genesis
Yoseif bought all the land. He did not wish to purchase their bodies in exchange for bread, since it is the duty of a ruler to feed his people. Only when they asked to return to their lands did he make serfdom a precondition.
Siftei Chakhamim
Bought for him. Rashi is explaining that it does not mean under his rulership, as that was so even beforehand. 21