This Is The Richest Person In Virginia, New Analysis Says

VIRGINIA — Jacqueline Mars has bragging rights as the richest person in Virginia, according to a recent ranking from Forbes.

Nearly all states have at least one billionaire, according to The Richest Person In Every State list put together by Forbes. The only ones that don’t are Alaska, Delaware and West Virginia.

Mars is an heir to the family candy and pet food company with an estimated net worth of $39.9 billion as of June 20. Mars, 83, lives in The Plains.

Forbes says she owns about one-third of Mars, the world's largest candymaker, founded by her grandfather. She worked for the company for nearly 20 years and served on the board until 2016.

Mars serves on the board of the National Archives and was formerly on the board of the Washington National Opera.

Her brother John owns an estimated third of the Mars company; her late brother Forrest Jr.'s four daughters own the rest.

Nearly a third of the billionaires topped their states for the first time, according to Forbes.

The competition to make the list is the fiercest in four states, where than 60 percent of the 775 billionaires who live in the United States reside: California with 179 billionaires, New York with 130, Florida with 92, and Texas with 73.

Because of ties, 54 people made the list. Their average age is 73, with Walmart heir Lukas Walton, 36, of Illinois, and Maryland-based Annette Lerner, 93, the widow of Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner, who died in February, bookending the list.

About two-thirds of these billionaires, as well as centimillionaires (people whose net worth is more than $100 million) are self-made, and the rest inherited their fortunes, according to Forbes. More than half made their money in four industries: finance and investments, fashion and retail, food and beverage, and technology.