What is Victoria Mars’ Net Worth?
Victoria Mars, a fourth-generation member of the Mars family, has an estimated net worth of $9.34 billion. The primary source of Victoria Mars’s wealth stems from her approximately 8% ownership stake in Mars, Incorporated, which she inherited in 2016 following the passing of her father, Forrest Mars Jr.. This inheritance significantly boosted her net worth, instantly propelling her into billionaire status.
Mars, Inc., known for iconic brands such as M&M’s, Snickers, and Milky Way, is a privately held company with annual sales exceeding $47 billion as of 2024. Victoria Mars has held various high-ranking positions within Mars, Inc., including serving as its chairman from 2014 to 2017.
Here’s the breakdown of Victoria Mars’ net worth:
Name: | Victoria Mars |
Net Worth: | $9.34 Billion |
Date of Birth: | 1956 |
Profession: | Businessperson |
If you’re curious about how we estimate a celebrity’s net worth, you can check out our methodology here.
Early Life
Victoria B. Mars was born in 1956 into the fourth generation of the Mars family, one of America’s wealthiest and most successful business dynasties. She is the daughter of Forrest Mars Jr. and Virginia Cretella, and has three sisters: Marijke, Pamela, and Valerie. Victoria’s great-grandfather, Franklin Clarence Mars, founded Mars, Incorporated in 1911, laying the foundation for the family’s immense wealth.
Growing up, Victoria received a privileged education. She attended the prestigious Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia, graduating in 1974.
Following her secondary education, she went on to study at Yale University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Administrative Sciences, German, and French.
Career
Victoria Mars began her professional career in 1978, joining the family business in Haguenau, France, as an assistant brand manager for Milky Way. This entry-level position was in line with her father and uncle’s belief that family members should start at the bottom and work their way up.
After gaining initial experience, Victoria pursued further education, earning an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 1984.
Armed with this advanced degree, she took on more significant roles within Mars, Incorporated. She served as Director of the Marine Systems Division of Mars Electronics International and later as Vice President of S&F, Commercial, and People and Organization for Dove in Burr Ridge, Illinois.
A pivotal moment in Victoria’s career came in 1997 when she was appointed as Mars, Incorporated’s first ombudsman, a position she held until 2013. This role allowed her to develop and lead a program that provided Mars associates with the opportunity to address work-related issues confidentially with a neutral third party.
In 2006, she joined the board of directors of Mars, Incorporated. Her leadership skills were further recognized when she was appointed chairman of the board in April 2014, a position she held until 2017.
Charity Work
Victoria Mars’s charitable efforts span multiple areas, including education, environmental conservation, and community development.
One of her notable contributions has been to her alma mater, Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia, where she served on the board of trustees.
Environmental conservation is another area where Victoria has made significant contributions. She has been a consistent donor to the Galapagos Conservancy, making annual donations from 2007 to 2013. In addition, she has supported the Charles Darwin Foundation.
Victoria has made donations to the Mystic Seaport, a maritime museum in Connecticut, and the High Mountain Institute in Colorado, which focuses on environmental education for young people. In 2014, she was also a donor to the Thorncroft Equestrian Center in Pennsylvania, supporting therapeutic riding programs.
Personal Life
Victoria has been married twice and is a mother of four children. Her current husband is David Spina, and she has two children from each of her marriages: Stephanie, Bernadette, Kimberly, and Andrew.
She resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, maintaining a connection to the East Coast where much of her business and philanthropic work is centered.
Ashley Roberts is the founder of Real-Time Billionaires List. She founded this platform because she likes to know how much celebrities are actually making. She is always curious why these people can make much more money than the ordinary person.
With a Bachelor’s degree in finance, she is skilled at financial analysis and understands numbers related to wealth. Most of the articles on this site are edited by herself before publishing.
