Forrest Mars, Jr. Biography

Forrest Edward Mars, Jr. (born August 16, 1931) is the eldest son of Forrest Mars, Sr. and the grandson of Frank C. Mars, the founder of Mars, Incorporated, the confectionary company. As a member of the Mars family, his share of the company and other assets were worth US$10 billion in September 2010, down from US$11 billion in March 2010. As of October 2012 the Bloomberg Billionaires List ranks Mars as the 31st richest man in the world with an estimated net worth of 20.1 billion.

Public activities

As owner of the Diamond Cross Ranch, an parcel along Montana's Tongue River and on the northern end of the Powder River Basin, Mars has been active in opposing the development of his part of what's been called the "most productive coal and natural gas fields in the nation." Companies that hold the oil and gas leases to his land, rights originally made possible by the Stock-Raising Homestead Act and the Mineral Leasing Act, are seeking to exercise those rights on his ranch. Mars is reportedly concerned about the large amount of water that energy exploration and production projects consume, water needed by his ranch.

With the exception of a single donation supporting Bill Clinton in 1991, Mars has donated to the campaigns of Republicans.

Mars and his ex-wife donated the funds that made it possible for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to reconstruct an 18th-century coffeehouse in Colonial Williamsburg.

The ex-couple made significant contributions to the privately owned governing body for Fort Ticonderoga, though a falling-out between Executive Director Nicholas Westbrook and Mrs. Mars led to her resignation from the board and the end of the then-couple's financial support.

Wealth

According to Forbes magazine as of 2010, he was the 52nd richest person in the world, the 26th richest American, and the richest Virginian.

Family

Mars married Virginia Cretella, born . They have four children: Victoria Mars, Valerie Anne Mars, Pamela Diane Mars born , and Marijke Elizabeth Mars born .

He divorced Virginia in 1990 to marry Deborah Adair Clarke. He divorced Deborah Adair Clarke in 2010.