Jacqueline Mars and her two brothers, John and Forrest Jr, own $31.6 billion (sales) Mars, the world's largest candy company thanks in part to its $23 billion acquisition of gum maker Wrigley's in 2008. The candy maker's most famous brands include Milky Way, M&M's, 3 Musketeers, Twix, Skittles, and Snickers, reportedly named for the Mars family's favorite horse. Jacqueline's grandfather, Frank Mars, began making chocolates in 1911 in his Tacoma, WA kitchen. It was her father Forrest Sr. who invented malt-flavored nougat and M&M's, over 400 million of which are produced in the United States each day. Mars has since branched out into consumer and pet foods with the well-known brands Uncle Ben's Rice and Whiskas under the Mars umbrella. Jacqueline is a trustee of the United States Equestrian team and sits on the board of the Washington National Opera, which recently completed a merger with the Kennedy Center.

Born October 10, 1940, Mars married David H. Badger in 1961, they had three children. Mars divorced Badger in 1984. She married Hank Vogel in 1986; they divorced in 1994.