John Franklyn Mars is an American businessman, the billionaire Chairman and co-owner of Mars, Incorporated, the massive candy, food, and pet care firm. His immense wealth is generational, tied to the empire founded by his grandfather, Franklin Clarence Mars, in 1911 (who co-invented the Milky Way bar in 1923). He is the brother of Jacqueline Mars.

Mars graduated from Yale University in 1957 with a B.A. His career is defined by generational stewardship, extreme secrecy, and a commitment to long-term private ownership. He inherited an estimated one-third stake in the company after his father's death in 1999, which has grown into the $55 billion (sales) business today.

• Mars, Incorporated (Chairman & Co-owner): The core private asset, a global giant in candy (M&Ms, Snickers), food, and pet care (e.g., Pedigree, Whiskas). He owns an estimated one-third stake.
• Extreme Secrecy: He is notoriously reclusive; for years he was the highest ranked person on the Forbes list whose photograph was unavailable to the magazine.
• Pet Care Focus: He led major acquisitions, including the $7.7 billion VCA, Inc. (a pet care company) in 2017.
• Generational Heritage: His family invented the Milky Way candy bar in 1923.

John Mars's strategic leadership has focused on diversification and global expansion of the Mars brand beyond candy into the high-growth pet care and animal health segments (which account for a massive portion of the company's revenue). His 2017 acquisition of VCA, Inc. solidified Mars' dominance in pet care, which includes brands like Pedigree and Whiskas.

His structural contribution is immense: ensuring the long-term stability and strategic direction of one of the world's most valuable private companies. He served as Chairman of Mars Inc. and maintained the family's commitment to private ownership, shielding the multi-billion dollar enterprise from the demands of public shareholders. He was awarded an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.

John Mars's social impact is structural, stemming from Mars, Incorporated's role as a massive global employer and foundational provider of essential consumer staples and pet care products. His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives. He and his wife, Adrienne Mars, are noted supporters of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

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

John Mars maintains the extremely discreet, reclusive style of his family, preferring privacy over the public eye. His attire is conservative and high-quality. His aesthetic reflects stability and immense inherited wealth.

Residing in Jackson, Wyoming, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to the stewardship of the Mars legacy, global investment, and philanthropy.