The family that owns the confectionery company Mars Inc., the Mars family, is ranked third-richest in America with a net worth of $89.7 billion.
Founded in 1911 by Frank C. Mars in Tacoma, Washington, his company specialised in wholesale candy production. In 1923, Mars’ Milky Way candy bar became a bestseller and spawned the slightly different Mars bar a decade later. Frank C. Mars died in 1934, leaving the family business to his son Forrest. The company would develop notable confectionaries M&M’s, Skittles and Snickers. Today, Mars Inc. is considered the world’s largest candy manufacturer.
Forrest passed in 1999, leaving a third of the company to each of his children: Jacqueline, John and Forrest Jr, who died in 2016. A well-known philanthropist, Jacquelyn worked at Mars Inc. for nearly two decades and served on its board until 2016. Her son, Stephen Badger, is the current chairman of Mars Inc., which also makes Uncle Ben’s rice and pet food, including Pedigree and Whiskas.
Both Jacqueline and her brother John run the Mars Foundation, which donates to educational, environmental and health-related causes.