Episode 19 - The Mars Family: Candy, Secrecy, and Billions

The Mars family is the dynasty behind some of the world's most iconic brands—M&Ms, Snickers, and Milky Way—yet they are arguably the most secretive family in America. This episode penetrates the thick veil of privacy surrounding the clan that controls the largest candy company on Earth. We trace the family's history back to its founder, Frank Mars, and his often-strained relationship with his son, Forrest Sr., the tyrannical and brilliant visionary who built the company into a global powerhouse.

We expose the cult-like corporate culture that Forrest Sr. instilled, known as the "Five Principles," which demanded quality and efficiency above all else. His fanatical obsession with secrecy extended from the company's finances—which remain entirely private—to his own family life, keeping his children and grandchildren out of the public eye for decades. We investigate how this intense privacy has allowed the family to amass a fortune estimated to be over $100 billion while avoiding the public scrutiny faced by other dynasties like the Waltons and the Kochs. Their influence is everywhere, yet the family itself is virtually invisible.

This episode delves into the paradox of the Mars family: a company whose products are a colorful and joyful part of everyday life, run by a dynasty that operates with the discipline and secrecy of a covert intelligence agency. We uncover the story of the billionaires who hide in plain sight. This is a rare glimpse inside one of America's most powerful and unknown empires.