The Richest People In America: John Mars

#25 John Franklyn Mars

$12.0 billion
Source Food, Inherited and growing

Age 70
Marital Status Married, 2 children

Hometown Arlington, VA, United States
Education Yale University, Bachelor of Arts / Science

Grandchild of Frank and Ethel Mars, candymakers who started selling chocolates from their kitchen in Tacoma, Wash. 1919. Father, Forrest Sr. (d. 1999), took reins, introduced malt-flavor nougat, which became core of Mars candy bar line: Snickers, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers. Also created Twix, M&Ms, Skittles. Obsessed with efficiency in factories: punctuality, measurement, quality. Added pet food (Whiskas, Pedigree), Uncle Ben's Rice, electronic components for vending machines. Today Mars is world's largest confectioner. Sales: $19 billion. Expanding pet food division: recently bought Doane Pet Care (makes Wal-Mart's Ol' Roy label) and the maker of Greenies, nation's top-selling dog treat.

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