Ever wonder why you can't buy stock in Snickers? It's kind of wild when you think about it. Most of the massive companies that dominate our pantries—think Nestlé or PepsiCo—are beholden to thousands of public shareholders and the relentless tick of the quarterly earnings clock. But Mars, Incorporated is different. Very different.
Basically, the answer to who owns Mars Inc is a single family: the Mars family. They have owned the entire thing since 1911. No outside investors. No IPOs. Just one family controlling a global empire that brought in roughly $55 billion in revenue last year.
It’s one of the largest privately held companies in the world. They aren't just selling M&Ms and Skittles, either. Honestly, if you’ve taken your dog to a vet lately, there is a massive chance the Mars family owns that clinic, too. They are everywhere, yet they’re famously private. Some people call them the "Kremlin of Candy" because of how quiet they keep their internal business.
The Short Answer: It’s All in the Family
If you want the names, here is the breakdown. The company is currently owned by the grandchildren of the founder, Frank C. Mars.
The heavy hitters are Jacqueline Mars and John Mars. Each of them owns an estimated one-third of the company. The final third belongs to the four daughters of their late brother, Forrest Mars Jr. That group includes Victoria Mars, Valerie Mars, Pamela Mars-Wright, and Marijke Mars.
These six people are some of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. Combined, the family’s net worth is often estimated at over $120 billion. That puts them right up there with the Waltons of Walmart.
Why haven't they gone public?
Most companies go public to raise cash. Mars doesn't need to. They’ve spent decades reinvesting their own profits. By staying private, they can make decisions that might look "bad" to Wall Street but "good" for the next fifty years.
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For instance, they recently dropped about $36 billion to buy Kellanova—the company that makes Pringles and Pop-Tarts. A public company might have faced a lot of heat from shareholders about the debt or the "snack-heavy" strategy. Mars just does it. They don't have to answer to anyone except themselves.
How the Ownership is Divided Right Now
Ownership isn't just about money; it's about control. At Mars, that control is locked down tight.
- Jacqueline Mars: She’s a legend in the business world. She worked for the company for nearly 20 years and served as the Food Product Group President. Even though she retired in 2001, she’s still a massive influence on the board.
- John Mars: He’s the chairman and is famously frugal. There are stories about him flying commercial and staying in regular hotels despite being a multi-billionaire. This "no-frills" culture is baked into the company.
- The Fourth Generation: The "four sisters"—Victoria, Valerie, Pamela, and Marijke—are increasingly active. Victoria Mars, for example, served as the chair of the board for several years. They aren't just heirs; they are working members of the business hierarchy.
The "Secret" Veterinary Empire
Here is what most people get wrong. They think Mars is just a candy company.
It’s not.
More than half of their business is actually Petcare. They own the biggest names in the game: Pedigree, Iams, Royal Canin, and Whiskas. But they didn't stop at the food bowl.
The Mars family has spent the last decade buying up veterinary clinics. If you go to a Banfield Pet Hospital, VCA, or BluePearl, you are handing your money to Mars. They are basically the biggest vet in the world. This was a genius move. People might stop buying candy during a recession, but they rarely stop taking care of a sick dog.
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It's a "defensive" business model. It provides steady, reliable cash flow that helps them fund huge acquisitions, like the Kellanova deal that finally closed in late 2025.
The Five Principles: Their Secret Sauce
You can’t talk about who owns Mars Inc without mentioning the "Five Principles." These are Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom.
They sound like corporate fluff, right? Most of the time, they are. But at Mars, these are the law.
The most important one for the family is "Freedom." By remaining private, they have the freedom to ignore short-term stock market trends. They are currently investing $2 billion into U.S. manufacturing through 2026. This includes a massive new facility in Salt Lake City for Nature’s Bakery, another brand they snatched up.
They also have a non-family CEO, Poul Weihrauch. He’s been in the role since 2022. While he runs the day-to-day, make no mistake: he reports to the Mars family. They set the "Compass"—their internal roadmap—to make sure the company is thinking in generations, not just quarters.
What This Means for You
So, why should you care who owns your candy bar?
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Ownership dictates behavior. Because Mars is family-owned, they can take bigger swings on sustainability. They have a "Sustainable in a Generation" plan that actually puts real money toward reducing their carbon footprint and fixing supply chain issues like child labor in cocoa farming.
Of course, they aren't perfect. They’ve faced plenty of criticism over the years regarding their supply chain and the health impact of sugary snacks. But because they don't have to answer to a thousand different hedge funds, they can (and do) pivot faster than most of their competitors when they decide a change is needed.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you are looking to track this company or perhaps even work there, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- Watch the Petcare Sector: Mars is leaning heavily into pet tech and diagnostics. They recently acquired Heska and Antech. If you’re in the vet space, Mars is your biggest competitor or your future boss.
- Kellanova Integration: Keep an eye on how they merge Pringles and Cheez-It into their "Snacking" division. This is their biggest test since they bought Wrigley in 2008.
- Family Transition: As Jacqueline and John (both in their 80s) take more of a backseat, the dynamics of the four sisters will determine if Mars stays private. So far, they seem 100% committed to keeping it in the family.
The story of Mars is a reminder that in an age of faceless corporations and algorithm-driven stock trading, some of the biggest players on the field are still just a family sitting around a dinner table making decisions.
To stay informed on their latest moves, you can follow the official Mars Global newsroom or track the annual Forbes 400 list, which provides the most accurate yearly updates on the individual family members' stakes and net worth.