Mars family
The Mars family is an American family that owns the confectionery company Mars Inc. In 1988, the family was ranked as the richest family in the United States of America by Fortune magazine. It has since been surpassed by the Walton family and the Koch family, and was ranked as the third richest family in the United States in 2016.
Upon the 1 July 1999 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. In 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. One of these sons, Forrest Mars Jr., died on 26 July 2016, and his four daughters inherited his wealth, with three of them working for the company as of 2019. As of April 2020, the combined private fortune of the family members was estimated at around $126 billion, making them one of the richest families in the world.
The family is very protective of their privacy. They rarely, if ever, give press interviews or, with the exception of Jacqueline Mars and Victoria B. Mars, are photographed in public.
A 2006 report quantified how the Mars family was among 18 billionaire families, starting in the 1990s, who continuously lobbied Congress to eliminate the estate tax.
Family members
Franklin Clarence Mars – founder of Mars, Inc. Invented the Milky Way bar.- * Ethel G. Kissack – first wife of Frank C. Mars
- **Forrest Edward Mars Sr. – son of Frank C. Mars and Ethel G. Mars. Invented M&M's.
- *** Audrey Ruth Meyer – wife of Forrest E. Mars Sr.
- ****Forrest E. Mars Jr. – son of Forrest E. Mars Sr.
- ***** Virginia Cretella – first wife of Forrest E. Mars Jr.
- ******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, member of the Board of Directors of Conservation International
- ******* Philip Michael White – husband of Valerie Anne Mars
- ******Pamela D. Mars-Wright daughter of Forrest E. Mars Jr. and Virginia C. Mars
- ******* Lonnie Jay Wright – husband of Pamela Diane Mars
- ******Marijke Elizabeth Mars – daughter of Forrest E. Mars Jr. and Virginia C. Mars
- ******* Stephen J. Doyle – husband of Marijke Elizabeth Mars
- ***** Deborah Adair Clarke – second wife of Forrest E. Mars Jr.
- **** John Franklyn Mars – son of Forrest E. Mars Sr.
- ***** Adrienne Bevis – wife of John Mars
- ****** Linda Anne Mars – daughter of John and Adrienne Mars
- ****** Frank Edward Mars – son of John and Adrienne Mars
- ******* Susan Alleman Mars – wife of Frank E. Mars
- ****** Michael John Mars – son of John and Adrienne Mars
- ******* Sarah Ann Robbins – wife of Michael John Mars
- **** Jacqueline Mars – daughter of Forrest E. Mars Sr.
- ***** David H. Badger – first husband of Jacqueline Mars
- ****** Alexandra B. Airth – daughter of Jacqueline Mars and David Badger
- ******* Andrew Towne Carey – husband of Alexandra Mars Badger
- ******* Alan Airth – husband of Alexandra Badger
- ****** Stephen M. Badger – son of Jacqueline Mars and David Badger
- ****** Christa M. Badger – daughter of Jacqueline Mars and David Badger
- ***** Harold 'Hank' Vogel – second husband of Jacqueline Mars
- * Ethel Veronica Healy – second wife of Frank C. Mars, president of Mars Candy Company, Chicago, after death of husband
- ** Patricia Mars – daughter of Frank C. Mars and Ethel V. Healy
- *** William Furst – husband of Patricia Mars
- *** Alan Feeney – husband of Patricia Mars