THE MONEY: One of the top 10 wealthiest families in the world. Made fortune over decades as the owner of Mars Inc., maker of candy, snacks and pet food and owner of vet clinics. Founded in 1911 by Frank Mars, the privately held firm produces candy staples such as M&M’s, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way and Skittles, along with owning pet brands such as Pedigree, Nutro and Sheba. 2024 sales topped over $54B, up 4.6% from last year, according to Bloomberg. Fifth generation now running the company.
THE FAMILY: Jacqueline Mars, a grandchild of Frank Mars, owns an estimated one-third of Mars, and Forbes estimates her net worth at $39.2B. One of her three children, Alexandra Airth, is married to local business exec Alan Airth, who has deep ties to OC’s commercial real estate industry and has served as a member of Mars Inc.’s board since 2016. Was first non-direct family member in the company’s history to serve as a voting board member. Alan also serves on the Litehouse Inc. board.
EDUCATION: Airth studied real estate and finance at University of Arizona (undergrad) and earned his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Business.
LOCAL TIES: In 2003, Airth, then a managing principal at OC-based The Koll Company, played a key role advising a real estate investment firm on the $15.4M acquisition of Cypress Corporate Park. The 203K-square-foot industrial complex was developed by Newport Beach–based Ewing Development Co., according to real estate publication Globe St.
PHILANTHROPY: The Airth family has supported Harbor Day School, heading up the Corona del Mar private school’s fundraising campaign, which has brought in more than $50M. Supporters of the Orange County Museum of Art and Pretend City Children’s Museum.
ESTIMATE: Given the numerous family members with stakes in Mars Inc. and the limited visibility in their fortune, the Business Journal’s estimate for the OC arm of the family places them at the low end of our list, at $1.5B, which could prove to be well on the low side.
