Jacqueline Mars Net Worth

Jacqueline Mars has an estimated net worth of $50.3 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Jacqueline Mars profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $23.9 billion in 2019.

Jacqueline Mars is an American heiress and investor tied to Mars, the candy, food, and pet care company her family built. She owns an estimated one-third of the business. Mars was founded in 1911 by her grandfather, Frank. In 1923, Frank and her father, Forrest Sr., created the Milky Way bar. That family stake made her one of the best-known members of the Mars dynasty, with wealth tied closely to the company’s long-running private ownership.

She also spent nearly 20 years working inside the company. In 1982, she joined Mars as food product group president and later retired in 2001. She stayed connected as a board member until 2016. Beyond the company, she owns a horse farm in Virginia that has trained horses ridden by Olympic medalists. Forbes put her net worth at $50.3 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker in October 2026, with wealth tied to candy and pet food.

How Jacqueline Mars built her fortune

Most of Jacqueline Mars’ wealth comes from her ownership stake in Mars, a private company with businesses in candy, food, and pet care. Forbes says she owns about one-third of the firm. Because the company has stayed under family control, her fortune is connected to the value of that holding rather than a public stock price. Her brother John owns another estimated third, while the rest is held by the 4 daughters of her late brother Forrest Jr.

Her connection to the business is not only through inheritance. She worked at Mars for nearly 20 years and served on the board until 2016. That gave her a direct role in the company during part of its modern growth. Forbes also notes that her son, Stephen Badger, serves on Mars’ board of directors. Outside the business, she owns a Virginia horse farm known for training horses ridden by Olympic medalists.

What changed her Forbes fortune

Forbes tracked a sharp rise in Jacqueline Mars’ estimated wealth over time. It was $23.9 billion in 2019, then $24.7 billion in 2020, and $31.3 billion in 2021. The estimate moved to $31.7 billion in 2022, climbed to $38.3 billion in 2023, and reached $38.5 billion in 2024. In 2025, Forbes put her at $42.6 billion before lifting the estimate again to $49.1 billion in 2026.

One major business move in that period was Mars’ December 2025 deal for snack company Kellavova, valued at $35.9 billion including debt. Forbes’ current estimate is $50.3 billion as of October 20, 2026. Her money remains tied to the value of Mars, especially its candy and pet food operations. Because she holds an estimated one-third stake, changes in the company’s scale can have a large effect on her Forbes total.