Meet The Richest Person In Virginia

MCLEAN, VA — Their family business has fed America's sweet tooth for decades, and the sugar has helped make one person the richest in Virginia. Forbes came out with its list of the "Richest Person in Every State" last week.

And the richest person in Virginia is....Jacqueline Mar, who is worth $27.6 billion. The heiress to the Mars candy fortune, along with brothers John and the late Forrest Jr. (who died in July 2016 at age 84) inherited Mars Inc., headquartered in McLean, the secretive Virginia-based firm in 1999 when their father, Forrest Sr., died in 1999. Mars is known for candy (3 Musketeers, M&Ms, MilkyWay, etc.) but has many other brands outside the sweets area, including pet food and gum.

The past year has been a good one for the ultra-wealthy. Forbes says all but one person on the 2017 ranking also made last year’s ranking, and these billionaires saw their fortunes increase $1.74 billion on average. Many of those named the wealthiest person in their state have had that ranking for several years, include the Oracle of Omaha Warren Buffet, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Several of those on the list own professional sports teams. Many made their money in retail, finance and investments, says Forbes.

»SEE ALSO: Five Virginia Billionaires Make 2017 Forbes List

Mars ranked at No. 9 overall on the Forbes list. The magazine ranks her ahead of other tycoons in the region, such as SC Johnson cleaning products heir Winnie Johnson-Marquart and AOL and Revolution founder Steve Case, along with her brother.

The candy company, which does $35 billion in sales annually, was founded by Mars' grandfather, Frank, in 1911. She and John each own one-third of the company. The company also includes Snickers, Starburst and Skittles, Wrigley Gum, Altoids and Lifesavers. Mars also makes Uncle Ben's rice and pet food, including Pedigree and Whiskas, Forbes says.

The Washington Post has reported that Mars gives some of her money away, to the Washington National Opera and to the U.S. Equestrian Team. Mars is also a member of the board of trustees of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, as well as vice chairman of the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg. She is also on the board of American Prairie Reserve in Montana.

»Image via Shutterstock