Mars family
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2008-05-27T22:23:51Z
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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]]