Mars family
Encyclopedia
The Mars family is a family that owns the confectionery company Mars, Inc.
, bearing their name. The family was called the richest family in America by Fortune
magazine in 1988, since surpassed by the Walton family
.
Upon the death of Forrest Mars, Sr., he and his two sons were ranked No. 29, 30, and 31 by Forbes
magazine's list of richest Americans, and they each had a worth of approximately $4 billion. As of March 2010, the three children of Forrest Mars were tied for 52nd place amongst the world's richest people according to Forbes, with a net worth
of each.
The family is fiercely protective of their privacy, refusing to give press interviews or, with the exception of Jacqueline Mars
, be photographed in public.
The Mars family was among 18 billionaire families who lobbied Congress to eliminate the estate tax. According to Public Citizen, since 1994 the families have spent approximately $500 million on lobbying efforts.
Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is a worldwide manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products with US$30 billion in annual sales in 2010, and is ranked as the 5th largest privately held company in the United States by Forbes. Headquartered in McLean, unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia,...
, bearing their name. The family was called the richest family in America by Fortune
Fortune (magazine)
Fortune is a global business magazine published by Time Inc. Founded by Henry Luce in 1930, the publishing business, consisting of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, grew to become Time Warner. In turn, AOL grew as it acquired Time Warner in 2000 when Time Warner was the world's largest...
magazine in 1988, since surpassed by the Walton family
Walton family
The Walton Family is one of the richest families in the world, their wealth inherited from Bud and Sam Walton, founders of the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart. The five most prominent members The Walton Family is one of the richest families in the world, their wealth inherited from Bud and Sam...
.
Upon the death of Forrest Mars, Sr., he and his two sons were ranked No. 29, 30, and 31 by Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine's list of richest Americans, and they each had a worth of approximately $4 billion. As of March 2010, the three children of Forrest Mars were tied for 52nd place amongst the world's richest people according to Forbes, with a net worth
Net worth
In business, net worth is the total assets minus total outside liabilities of an individual or a company. For a company, this is called shareholders' preference and may be referred to as book value. Net worth is stated as at a particular year in time...
of each.
The family is fiercely protective of their privacy, refusing to give press interviews or, with the exception of Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline Mars is the daughter of Forrest Edward Mars, Sr., and granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, founders of the American candy company Mars, Incorporated....
, be photographed in public.
The Mars family was among 18 billionaire families who lobbied Congress to eliminate the estate tax. According to Public Citizen, since 1994 the families have spent approximately $500 million on lobbying efforts.
Family members
- Franklin Clarence Mars (September 24, 1883 – April 8, 1934) – founder of Mars, Inc. Invented the Milky Way barMilky Way barThe Milky Way bar is a chocolate bar distributed by the Mars confectionery company. The American version of the Milky Way bar is made of chocolate-malt nougat topped with caramel and covered with milk chocolate and is very similar to the Mars bar sold in other countries...
.- Ethel G. Kissack (September 29, 1882 – April 11, 1980) – first wife of Frank C. Mars (married 1902, divorced)
- Forrest Edward Mars, Sr. (March 21, 1904 – July 1, 1999) – son of Franklin C. Mars and Ethel G. Mars. Invented M&M'sM&M'sM&M's are dragée-like "colorful button-shaped candies" produced by Mars, Incorporated...
.- Audrey Ruth Meyer (May 25, 1910 – June 15, 1989) – wife of Forrest E. Mars Sr.
- Forrest E. Mars, Jr. (born August 16, 1931) – son of Forrest E. Mars, Sr.
- Virginia Cretella (born 1929/1930) – first wife of Forrest E. Mars Jr. (divorced 1990)
- Victoria B. Mars – daughter of Forrest E. Mars Jr. and Virginia C. Mars
- Valerie Anne Mars – daughter of Forrest E. Mars Jr. and Virginia C. Mars
- Philip Michael White – husband of Valerie Anne Mars (married 1984)
- Pamela D. Mars-Wright (born Pamela Diane Mars, 1960/1961) daughter of Forrest E. Mars Jr. and Virginia C. Mars
- Lonnie Jay Wright (born 1960/1961) – husband of Pamela Diane Mars (married 1992)
- Marijke Elizabeth Mars (born 1964/1965) – daughter of Forrest E. Mars Jr. and Virginia C. Mars
- Joseph S. Doyle – husband of Marijke Elizabeth Mars (married 1991) (divorced 1994).
- Deborah Adair Clarke – second wife of Forrest E. Mars Jr. (divorced 2010)
- Virginia Cretella (born 1929/1930) – first wife of Forrest E. Mars Jr. (divorced 1990)
- John Franklyn Mars (born October 15, 1935) – son of Forrest E. Mars, Sr.
- Adrienne Bevis – wife of John Mars (married June 1958)
- Linda Anne Mars (born May 23, 1960) – daughter of John and Adrienne Mars
- Frank Edward Mars (born March 13, 1963) – son of John and Adrienne Mars
- Susan Alleman Mars – wife of Frank E. Mars
- Michael John Mars (born November 22, 1967) – son of John and Adrienne Mars
- Sarah Ann Robbins (born April 19, 1968) – wife of Michael John Mars (married 1993)
- Adrienne Bevis – wife of John Mars (married June 1958)
- Jacqueline MarsJacqueline MarsJacqueline Mars is the daughter of Forrest Edward Mars, Sr., and granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, founders of the American candy company Mars, Incorporated....
(born October 10, 1940) – daughter of Forrest E. Mars, Sr.- David H. Badger – first husband of Jacqueline Mars (married 1961, divorced 1984)
- Alexandra B. Airth (born Alexandra Badger, 1966/1967) – daughter of Jacqueline Mars and David Badger
- Andrew Towne Carey (born 1966/1967) – husband of Alexandra Mars Badger (married 1991) (divorced 1995)
- Alan Airth – husband of Alexandra Badger
- Stephen Mills Badger (born 1969) – son of Jacqueline Mars and David Badger
- Christa M. Badger (born 1975) – daughter of Jacqueline Mars and David Badger
- Alexandra B. Airth (born Alexandra Badger, 1966/1967) – daughter of Jacqueline Mars and David Badger
- Hank Vogel – second husband of Jacqueline Mars (married 1986, divorced)
- David H. Badger – first husband of Jacqueline Mars (married 1961, divorced 1984)
- Forrest E. Mars, Jr. (born August 16, 1931) – son of Forrest E. Mars, Sr.
- Audrey Ruth Meyer (May 25, 1910 – June 15, 1989) – wife of Forrest E. Mars Sr.
- Forrest Edward Mars, Sr. (March 21, 1904 – July 1, 1999) – son of Franklin C. Mars and Ethel G. Mars. Invented M&M's
- Ethel Veronica Healy (1884 – December 20, 1945) – second wife of Frank C. Mars (married 1910, widowed 1934), president of Mars Candy Company, Chicago, after death of husband
- Patricia Mars – daughter of Franklin C. Mars and Ethel V. Healy
- Ethel G. Kissack (September 29, 1882 – April 11, 1980) – first wife of Frank C. Mars (married 1902, divorced)