Valerie Mars is an American businesswoman, the billionaire heir and Director of Mars, Incorporated, the massive candy, food, and pet care firm. Her immense wealth stems from her inherited estimated 8 percent stake in the company. She is one of four daughters of the late Forrest Mars Jr. (d. 2016), and a member of the Mars family (co-inventors of the Milky Way bar).

Mars holds a B.A. from Yale University and an MBA from Columbia Business School (1988). Her career is defined by generational stewardship and fiduciary oversight of the complex family assets. She currently serves as Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Development for Mars, Incorporated.

• Mars, Incorporated (Co-owner & Senior VP): The core private asset, a global giant in candy (M&Ms, Snickers), food, and pet care (e.g., Pedigree, Whiskas). She owns an estimated 8 percent stake.
• Family Governance: She and her three sisters jointly inherited their father's stake, making them controlling shareholders of one of the largest private companies in the world.
• Industrial Focus: Her wealth is tied to the long-term, stable profitability of the global confectionery and pet care markets (Mars Petcare is the largest part of the company).
• Privacy: The Mars family is famously reclusive, strictly avoiding the public eye and maintaining private control over the company.

Valerie Mars's structural role is centered on fiduciary stewardship of her inherited assets and her executive function in Corporate Development, managing M&A and strategic growth initiatives for Mars, Incorporated. The company's strategic genius lies in its commitment to private ownership, which allows for massive, sustained investment in R&D and supply chain control. Her career focuses on driving the future growth of the family enterprise, particularly in pet care and health.

Her wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global consumer staples and animal health sectors.

Valerie Mars's social impact stems from Mars, Incorporated's role as a massive global employer and provider of essential consumer staples and pet care products. Her family's Mars Foundation and various trusts support significant initiatives in environmental sustainability, medical research, and education, reflecting the family's long-standing commitment to social good and animal health.

Her personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Valerie Mars maintains the discreet, professional style characteristic of the Mars family. Her attire is typically conservative and high-quality, favoring classic business wear. Her aesthetic reflects stability and quiet, established authority, typical of a highly private billionaire.

Residing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (with properties globally), her luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from her multi-billion dollar fortune. Her life is dedicated to financial stewardship, corporate strategy, and the long-term management of the Mars legacy.