Dangote vs Mars

Dangote Industries (Dangote Group) and Mars, Incorporated.

The differences

Forbes puts Aliko Dangote about $0.8B ahead of Jacqueline Mars.Forbes figures from 15 Oct 2026 and 11 Oct 2026.
Aliko Dangote: founded it. Jacqueline Mars: inherited it.
Aliko Dangote is from Nigeria; Jacqueline Mars is from United States.
Aliko Dangote has held a public or government advisory role; Jacqueline Mars has none on record.

Put someone else on either side

Dangote

Mars

Net worth, Forbes: $51.1BForbes, 15 Oct 2026; $50.3BForbes, 11 Oct 2026
Net worth, Bloomberg: $35.7BBloomberg, 17 Oct 2026; $48.8BBloomberg, 14 Oct 2026
Forbes rank: No. 35Real-Time list, 9 Oct 2026; No. 37Real-Time list, 8 Sep 2026
Billionaire since: 2008Forbes: he first appeared on its World's Billionaires list in 2008; Not stated

How it started: Founded itBegan trading rice, sugar and cement in 1978 with a loan from his uncle; Bloomberg says he formed the corporation that became Dangote Group in 1981; Inherited itMars was founded by her grandfather Frank C. Mars in 1911; Forbes says she owns an estimated one-third of it
Main source: Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote CementBloomberg's largest items: the refinery ($18.6 billion), Dangote Cement ($11.7 billion) and a fertiliser plant ($3.02 billion); Mars, Incorporated (confectionery, snacks, food and pet care)
Companies: Dangote Industries (Dangote Group), Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote CementDangote Industries (Dangote Group): Founder, president and chief executive; Dangote Petroleum Refinery: Chairman; Dangote Cement: Chairman of the board; Mars, IncorporatedMars, Incorporated: None; retired
Biggest stake: Dangote Petroleum Refinery92.3% owned; Mars, Incorporated33% owned

Born: 10 Apr 1957Kano, Nigeria; Not stated
Country: NigeriaLives in Lagos, Nigeria; United StatesLives in Virginia, United States
Education: Bachelor's degreeBusiness degree, Al-Azhar University, Cairo; Bachelor's degreeBryn Mawr College, class of 1961
Parents: Son of Mariya Sanusi Dantata and Mohammed Dangote; his father died when he was eight and he was raised by his maternal grandfather, a commodities and building-materials trader. His great-grandfather was one of West Africa's richest men; Granddaughter of Mars founder Frank C. Mars; her father Forrest E. Mars Sr. joined and later led the family business

Giving Pledge: Not a signer; Not a signer
Foundation: Aliko Dangote FoundationHis private charitable foundation, incorporated in 1994 as Dangote Foundation; Mars HQ Regional FoundationIts Form 990-PF lists her as president; the Mars Impact Fund is a company initiative
Lifetime giving: Not stated; Not stated

Role now: Runs the companyPresident and chief executive of Dangote Group; chairman of Dangote Cement and Dangote Petroleum Refinery; RetiredNo role at Mars; formerly president of the Food Product Group and a board member
Successor: No single successor named; Bloomberg says his succession plan includes his three daughters, Halima, Fatima and Mariya, all group executive directors at Dangote Industries; Mars has been run by non-family management since 2001 (CEO Poul Weihrauch); her son Stephen Badger sits on the board
Public office: Chairman, Nigeria End Malaria Council2022-; None found
Legal record: None found; 2013: Loudoun County General District Court, VirginiaPleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless driving over a fatal crash in October 2013; the judge fined her $2,500 and suspended her licence for six months.