Mars family 1251073 215374244 2008-05-27T22:23:51Z 141.161.98.251 The '''Mars family''' is a family that owns the [[confectionary]] company [[Mars, Incorporated|Mars, Inc.]], bearing their name. The family was called the richest family in America by ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine in [[1988]]. Upon the death of Forrest Mars, Sr., he and his two sons were ranked #29, 30, and 31 by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine's list of richest Americans, and they each had a worth of approximately $4 billion. As of [[2008]], Forrest Mars's three children are ranked by ''Forbes'' [[List of billionaires (2008)|List of "The World's Billionaires"]] as #46, with $14.0 billion each <ref>[http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html Forbes The World's Billionaires], 2008</ref>. The family is fiercely protective of their privacy, refusing to do interviews with the press or, with the exception of Jacqueline Mars, be photographed in public.<ref>[http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/partypictures/2006/03_29_06/partypictures03_29_06.php Party Pictures 3/29/06 - A little Washington and Palm Beach<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The Mars family was among 18 billionaire families who successfully lobbied Congress to eliminate the [[estate tax]]. [http://www.citizen.org/documents/EstateTaxFinal.pdf]. According to Public Citizen, since 1994 the families have spent approximately $500 million on lobbying efforts. The family members are: *[[Franklin Clarence Mars]] (1883-1934) - founder of Mars, Inc. Invented the [[Milky Way bar]]. *[[Ethel G. Kissack]] - first wife of Franklin C. Mars *[[Ethel Veronica Healy]] - second wife of Franklin C. Mars **[[Forrest Edward Mars, Sr.]] (1904-1999) - son of Franklin C. Mars. Invented [[M&M's]]. **[[Audrey Mars]] (died [[1989]]) - wife of Forrest E. Mars, Sr. ***[[Forrest Edward Mars, Jr.]] - son of Forrest E. Mars Sr. ***[[Virginia Mae Cretella]] - Ex-wife of Forrest E. Mars, Jr. ****[[Victoria (Vickie) Mars]] - First daughter of Forrest Mars, Jr. & Virginia Mars ****[[Valerie (Val) Mars]] - Second daughter of Forrest Mars, Jr. & Virginia Mars ****[[Pamela (Pam) Mars]] - Third daughter of Forrest Mars, Jr. & Virginia Mars ****[[Marijke Mars]] - Fourth daughter of Forrest Mars, Jr. & Virginia Mars ***[[John Franklyn Mars]] - son of Forrest E. Mars Sr. ***[[Adrienne Bevis]] - wife of John Mars ***[[Jacqueline Mars]] - daughter of Forrest E. Mars Sr. ***[[Hank Vogel]] - Ex-husband of Jacqueline Mars ==Mars's family fortune== List of Mars's family fortune as of March 5, 2008 published by [[Forbes]]. *[[Forrest Edward Mars, Jr.]] US$14.0 billion *[[Jacqueline Mars]] US$14.0 billion *[[John Mars]] US$14.0 billion *'''Total''': US$42.0 billion ==References== <references/> [[Category:American families]] [[Category:Family businesses]] [[Category:Mars family|*]] [[fr:Famille Mars]]