| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $23.4 billion at the time of his death in 2016 |
| Salary | N/A |
| Birthdate | August 16, 1931 |
| Birthplace | Oak Park, Illinois |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | N/A |
| Profession | Businessman, Former Co-President of Mars, Incorporated |
| Nationality | American |
What was Forrest Mars Jr.’s Net Worth?
Forrest Mars Jr. was an American billionaire business scion who had a net worth of $23.4 billion at the time of his death in 2016. Mars served as co-president of the multinational Mars corporation from 1975 to 1999, alongside his younger brother John Mars. He was one of the 25 richest people in America and the richest person in the state of Virginia.
Highlights
– Forrest Mars Jr. had a net worth of $23.4 billion at the time of his death in 2016.
– He served as co-president of Mars, Incorporated from 1975 to 1999.
– Mars was one of the 25 richest people in America and the richest person in the state of Virginia.
– He was born on August 16, 1931, in Oak Park, Illinois.
– Mars owned the 82,000-acre Diamond Cross Ranch in Montana.
– He was actively involved in philanthropy, including supporting the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Fort Ticonderoga.
– Mars passed away on July 26, 2016, in Seattle, Washington.
Early Life
Forrest Mars Jr. was born on August 16, 1931, in Oak Park, Illinois. He was the eldest son of Forrest Mars Sr. and Audrey Ruth. Mars was the grandson of Frank C. Mars, founder of Mars, Incorporated, a renowned confectionery and food company. He had a younger brother named John and a younger sister named Jacqueline, who worked for the family company.
As a youth, Mars attended the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, and later graduated in 1949. He went on to pursue his higher education at Yale University, where he obtained his BS in 1953. Mars further pursued an MBA from New York University. He also served as a finance officer in the United States Army.
Career
Mars joined the family business in 1959 as a financial officer. In the early 1960s, he became the general manager of a large new factory in the Netherlands. He then served as the managing director of Mars France before returning to the United States in 1970 to become the company’s group vice president.
In 1975, Mars was appointed co-president of Mars, Incorporated, alongside his brother John. During their tenure, the Mars corporation experienced significant growth, and the company’s headquarters were relocated to McLean, Virginia, in 1984. Mars retired in 1999 but remained on the Mars board of directors until 2006.
Personal Life
Mars was married three times. His first wife was Virginia Cretella, with whom he had four children: Victoria, Valerie, Pamela, and Marijke. All of his children served in various executive positions at Mars, Incorporated. After divorcing Cretella in 1990, Mars married Deborah Clarke, but they eventually divorced in 2010. His third and final wife was Jacomien Ford.
Components of Net Worth
Forrest Mars Jr.’s net worth primarily consisted of his ownership stake in Mars, Incorporated, a privately held company known for its confectionery and food products. The Mars family has consistently been ranked among the richest families in the United States due to the success and profitability of the Mars corporation.
In addition to his business interests, Mars also owned the expansive Diamond Cross Ranch, a property spanning 82,000 acres in Montana. The ranch was situated on coal- and natural gas-rich fields, and Mars actively opposed development in the area.
Furthermore, Mars engaged in philanthropy, making significant donations to organizations such as the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Fort Ticonderoga.
Overall, Forrest Mars Jr.’s net worth represented his accumulated wealth from his involvement in the Mars corporation, his personal assets, and his philanthropic contributions.
Sources:
– Celebrity Net Worth
– John Mars Net Worth
– Celebrity Net Worth – Virginia
– Forrest Mars Sr. Net Worth
– Victoria Mars Net Worth
– Valerie Mars Net Worth
– Pamela Mars Net Worth
– Marijke Mars Net Worth