Mars family

The Mars family is a family who ran the candy company Mars, Inc., bearing their name. The family was called the richest family in America by 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 2004, Forrest Mars's three children are ranked by Forbes list of "World's Richest People" as #27, 28, and 29, with $10.4 billion each.

The family is fiercely secretive, refusing to do interviews with the press or be photographed in public.

The Mars family was among 18 billionaire families who successfully lobbied Congress to eliminate the estate tax. According to Public Citizen, since 1994 the families have spent approximately $500 million on lobbying efforts.

The family members are:
*Frank C. Mars - founder of Mars, Inc. Invented the Milky Way.
*Ethel Mars - wife of Frank Mars
*Forrest Mars Sr. (died 1999) - son of Frank Mars. Invented M&M's.
*Audrey Mars (died 1989) - wife of Forrest Mars Sr.
*Forrest Mars Jr. - son of Forrest Mars Sr.
*John Mars - son of Forrest Mars Sr.
*Jacqueline Mars - daughter of Forrest Mars Sr.