Mars family

White stone mausoleum with iron doors and "Mars" engraved near the top
Private mausoleum in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis

The Mars family is an American family that owns the confectionery company Mars, Inc., bearing their name. The family once was ranked as the richest family in the United States by Fortune magazine in 1988, it has since been surpassed by the Walton family and the Koch family, currently ranking as the third richest family in America as of 2016.[1]

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 US$11 billion each.[2][3][4]

The family is fiercely protective of their privacy, refusing to give press interviews or, with the exception of Jacqueline Mars and Victoria B. Mars, be photographed in public.[5]

The Mars family was among 18 billionaire families who lobbied Congress to eliminate the estate tax.[6] 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 bar.
    • Ethel G. Kissack (September 29, 1882 – April 11, 1980)[7] – first wife of Frank C. Mars (married 1902, divorced)
      • Forrest Edward Mars Sr. (March 21, 1904 – July 1, 1999) – son of Frank C. Mars and Ethel G. Mars. Invented M&M's.
        • Audrey Ruth Meyer (May 25, 1910 – June 15, 1989) – wife of Forrest E. Mars Sr.
          • Forrest E. Mars Jr. (August 16, 1931- July 26, 2016) – son of Forrest E. Mars Sr.[8]
            • Virginia Cretella (born 1929/1930)[9] – first wife of Forrest E. Mars Jr. (divorced 1990)[10]
              • Victoria B. Mars – daughter of Forrest E. Mars Jr. and Virginia C. Mars[8][11]
              • Janet Henderson - (born 1959) – daughter of Forrest E. Mars Sr.
              • Valerie Anne Mars – daughter of Forrest E. Mars Jr. and Virginia C. Mars,[8][12] member of the Board of Directors of Conservation International.[13]
                • Philip Michael White – husband of Valerie Anne Mars (married 1984)[12]
              • Pamela D. Mars-Wright (born Pamela Diane Mars, 1960/1961) daughter of Forrest E. Mars Jr. and Virginia C. Mars[8][14]
                • Lonnie Jay Wright (born 1960/1961) – husband of Pamela Diane Mars (married 1992)[14]
              • Marijke Elizabeth Mars (born 1965) – daughter of Forrest E. Mars Jr. and Virginia C. Mars[15][16]
                • Stephen J Doyle - husband of Marijke Elizabeth Mars (married 1991)[15] (divorced 2000)
            • Deborah Adair Clarke – second wife of Forrest E. Mars Jr.[10] (divorced 2010)
          • John Franklyn Mars (born October 15, 1935) – son of Forrest E. Mars Sr.[8]
            • Adrienne Bevis – wife of John Mars (married June 1958)[17]
              • Linda Anne Mars (born May 23, 1960) – daughter of John and Adrienne Mars[11][17]
              • Frank Edward Mars (born March 13, 1963) – son of John and Adrienne Mars[8][11][17]
                • Susan Alleman Mars – wife of Frank E. Mars[18]
              • Michael John Mars (born November 22, 1967) – son of John and Adrienne Mars[8][17][19]
                • Sarah Ann Robbins (born April 19, 1968) – wife of Michael John Mars (married 1993)[17][19]
          • Jacqueline Mars (born October 10, 1939) – daughter of Forrest E. Mars Sr.[11]
            • David H. Badger – first husband of Jacqueline Mars (married 1961, divorced 1984)[11]
              • Alexandra B. Airth (born Alexandra Badger, 1966/1967) – daughter of Jacqueline Mars and David Badger[8][20]
                • Andrew Towne Carey (born 1966/1967) – husband of Alexandra Mars Badger (married 1991)[20] (divorced 1995)
                • Alan Airth – husband of Alexandra Badger[21]
              • Stephen M. Badger (born September 18, 1968) – son of Jacqueline Mars and David Badger
              • Christa M. Badger (born c.1975) – daughter of Jacqueline Mars and David Badger[8]
            • Hank Vogel – second husband of Jacqueline Mars (married 1986, divorced)[11]
    • 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[22]
      • Patricia Mars – daughter of Frank C. Mars and Ethel V. Healy[22]

References

  1. ↑ Dolan, Kerry A. "Billion-Dollar Clans: America's 25 Richest Families 2016". forbes.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  2. ↑ "The World's Billionaires (2010): No. 52 Forrest Mars Jr". Forbes. March 3, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  3. ↑ "The World's Billionaires (2010): No. 52 John Mars". Forbes. March 3, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  4. ↑ "The World's Billionaires (2010): No. 52 Jacqueline Mars". Forbes. March 3, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Party Pictures 3/29/06 - A little Washington and Palm Beach". www.newyorksocialdiary.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Spending Millions to Save Billions: The Campaign of the Super Wealthy to Kill the Estate Tax" (PDF). Public Citizen. April 2006.
  7. ↑ "Descendants of Gilbert Kissack". Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The Five Principles of Mars. Signed by Mars family members: Alexandra B. Airth, Christa M. Badger, Forrest E. Mars Jr., Frank E. Mars, Jacqueline B. Mars, John F. Mars, Michael J. Mars, Pamela D. Mars-Wright, Stephen M. Badger II, Valerie A. Mars, Victoria B. Mars.
  9. ↑ "AAVC Service to Vassar Award: Virginia Cretella Mars". Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College. Fall 2005. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  10. 1 2 Pottker, Jan (April 29, 2008). "Sweet Secrets: Opening Doors on the Very Private Lives of the Billionaire Mars Family". Washingtonian. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gleick, Elizabeth (February 21, 1994). "Crisis in Candy Land". People Vol. 41 No. 7. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  12. 1 2 "Valerie A. Mars To Wed Teacher". The New York Times. April 22, 1984. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Board of Directors". www.conservation.org. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  14. 1 2 "WEDDINGS; Pamela Mars, Lonnie Wright". The New York Times. January 3, 1993. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  15. 1 2 "Marijke E. Mars Weds S. J. Doyle". The New York Times. June 30, 1991. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Majrike Mars". Bloomberg Billionaire Index, bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 "Descendants of William Langley Bevis". Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Frank E. Mars On Campus February 2010". Elizabethtown College. February 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  19. 1 2 "WEDDINGS; Sarah Robbins, Michael J. Mars". The New York Times. October 3, 1993. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  20. 1 2 "Miss Badger to Marry Andrew Carey". The New York Times. March 3, 1991. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  21. ↑ Our Supporters. Pretend City Children’s Museum.
  22. 1 2 "Ethel V. Mars, Head of Candy Firm, Dies". Billboard. January 5, 1946. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
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