Jacqueline Mars is an American billionaire heiress and investor. Her immense wealth stems from her estimated one-third stake in Mars, Incorporated, the massive candy, food, and pet care firm. Born in 1939, she is the daughter of Forrest Mars Sr. and the granddaughter of Frank Clarence Mars, who founded the company in 1911 and co-invented the Milky Way bar in 1923.

Mars graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1961 with a degree in anthropology. Her life is characterized by extreme privacy and a strong focus on equestrian sports. She worked for the company for nearly 20 years (starting in 1982 as a food product group president) and served on the board until 2016. Her brother, John Mars, also owns an estimated one-third, with her late brother Forrest Jr.'s daughters owning the rest.

• Mars, Incorporated (Co-owner): The core private asset, a global giant in candy (M&Ms, Snickers), food, and pet care (e.g., Pedigree). She owns an estimated one-third stake.
• Equestrian Focus: She owns a horse farm in Virginia that has trained horses ridden by Olympic medalists, and is a trustee of the U.S. Equestrian Team.
• Privacy: Like her siblings, she is known for living frugally and avoiding the public eye.
• Generational Heritage: Her family invented the Milky Way bar in 1923.

Jacqueline Mars's primary role is generational stewardship and providing fiduciary oversight to the massive, private Mars, Incorporated. The company's revenues are estimated at $45 billion (2025 estimate), spanning consumer staples and animal health (a major focus of the pet care division). Her son, Stephen Badger, is actively involved in the company, serving on the board of directors.

Her structural contribution is primarily philanthropic and cultural: she is a major patron of equestrian sports and sits on the boards of the National Archives and the National Sporting Library and Fine Arts Museum. Her commitment to conservation and animal welfare is expressed through her horse farm in Virginia. The family's commitment to private ownership ensures long-term stability and strategic planning, free from the volatility of public markets.

Jacqueline Mars's social impact is structural, stemming from Mars, Incorporated's role as a massive global employer (thousands of employees) and foundational provider of essential consumer staples and animal care products. Her patronage of the U.S. Equestrian Team and her work on the board of the Washington National Opera (former) are major cultural contributions.

Her structural contribution is tied to the successful generational transition and long-term private ownership of one of the world's most recognizable consumer brands.

Jacqueline Mars maintains the highly discreet and frugal style of her family, preferring privacy over the high-profile glamour associated with her wealth. Her attire is professional and high-quality, often seen in the context of equestrian events.

Residing in The Plains, Virginia, her luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from her multi-billion dollar fortune. Her life is dedicated to the stewardship of her family's industrial legacy and her profound commitment to equestrian sports and the arts.