Ferrero vs Mars

Ferrero Group and Mars, Incorporated.

The differences

Forbes puts Jacqueline Mars about $2.3B ahead of Giovanni Ferrero.Forbes figures from 11 Oct 2026 and 12 Sep 2026.
Giovanni Ferrero: inherited and grew it. Jacqueline Mars: inherited it.
Giovanni Ferrero is from Italy; Jacqueline Mars is from United States.

Put someone else on either side

Ferrero

Mars

Net worth, Forbes: $48BForbes, 12 Sep 2026; $50.3BForbes, 11 Oct 2026
Net worth, Bloomberg: $57BBloomberg, 17 Oct 2026; $48.8BBloomberg, 14 Oct 2026
Forbes rank: No. 40Real-Time list, 12 Sep 2026; No. 37Real-Time list, 8 Sep 2026
Billionaire since: 2018Forbes: first joined its World's Billionaires list in 2018, at $23 billion; Not stated

How it started: Inherited and grew itForbes: he inherited the family candy business, became its sole leader in 2015 and expanded it through acquisitions (Nestlé's US confectionery in 2018, WK Kellogg in 2025); Inherited itMars was founded by her grandfather Frank C. Mars in 1911; Forbes says she owns an estimated one-third of it
Main source: Ferrero Group (Nutella, Kinder, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac)Forbes source of wealth: 'Nutella, chocolates'; Mars, Incorporated (confectionery, snacks, food and pet care)
Companies: Ferrero GroupFerrero Group: President of Ferrero Group and of Ferrero International S.A. (executive chairman); Mars, IncorporatedMars, Incorporated: None; retired
Biggest stake: Ferrero Group100% owned; Mars, Incorporated33% owned

Born: 1964Turin, Italy; Not stated
Country: ItalyLives in Brussels, Belgium; United StatesLives in Virginia, United States
Education: Not statedStudied marketing at Lebanon Valley College (1980); honorary master's from the University of Parma (2015) and honorary doctorate from Lebanon Valley College (2022); Bachelor's degreeBryn Mawr College, class of 1961
Parents: His father Michele Ferrero led the family confectionery company and created Nutella; his mother Maria Franca Ferrero chairs the Italian Ferrero Foundation; 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: Piera, Pietro and Giovanni Ferrero Foundation (Fondazione Ferrero)The family's foundation, chaired by his mother; not described as his personal giving vehicle; 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 (executive chairman) of Ferrero Group; RetiredNo role at Mars; formerly president of the Food Product Group and a board member
Successor: None namedLapo Civiletti became the first non-family CEO in 2017 and in 2026 moved to president of Ferrero Ice Cream and WK Kellogg Co; Alessandro Nervegna is CEO of Ferrero Core. No other family member holds an executive role in the cited materials; Mars has been run by non-family management since 2001 (CEO Poul Weihrauch); her son Stephen Badger sits on the board
Public office: None found; 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.