Portrait of Valerie Mars

Rank #277

Valerie Mars

Net worth $11.4B

Candy, pet food · United States

Born
Jan 26, 1959
Age
67
Source
Candy, pet food
Residence
New York, New York
Citizenship
United States
Marital status
Married
Children
2
Education
Master of Business Administration, Columbia University; Bachelor of Arts/Science, Yale University

Net worth over time

Biography

  • Valerie Mars and her three sisters each inherited an estimated 8% stake in candymaker Mars when their father, Forrest Mars Jr., died in 2016.
  • Her great-grandfather Frank Mars founded the company in 1911.
  • She began working at Mars in 1992 and today is the company's vice president of corporate development.
  • Mars also sits on the company's board of directors.
  • Mars acquired snack company Kellavova in December 2025 for $35.9 billion including debt.