Mars Billionaire Co-Owner Forrest Mars Jr Dies at 84

29 Jul 2016 --- The billionaire scion of the Mars chocolate empire Forrest Mars Junior has died at the age of 84.

Forrest Mars Junior, who helped drive the chocolate maker into new markets such as Russia and Poland, inherited the business together with his brother and sister, and ran the company for three decades.

"Forrest was a great inspiration to all of us at Mars, Incorporated," said Grant F Reid, CEO and office of the president for Mars.

"He was instrumental in building our business, while remaining committed to the founding principles of the company. Forrest will be sorely missed, but his contributions and the legacy he leaves behind at Mars will be long-lasting."

According to Mars, he helped increase yearly sales from $1bn to the $35bn that it generates today.

He died on July 26 in Seattle of a heart attack.

Mars can trace its roots back to 1911, when Frank C Mars began selling butter cream candy from his kitchen in Tacoma, Washington.

Forrest Mars Junior was the founder's grandson.

Prior to joining the family business, Forrest Mars Junior, after graduating from Yale, served in the US Army and worked for the accountancy firm Price Waterhouse.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Forrest Mars Jr was the world 21st richest person, with a net worth of $31.5bn.

His sister Jacqueline and his brother John continue to serve on the company’s board.

In the Mars Family book published in 2001, it said: "If the children wanted something, they had to work to earn the money. Their parents did not buy them fancy clothes or expensive cars. They did not receive allowances. They didn’t even get free candy!”