Acquired

Mars Inc. (the chocolate story)


Listen Later

M&M’s, Snickers, Milky Way, Double Mint, Ben’s Rice, Pedigree, Whiskas, VCA, Banfield… all the brands you know, owned by the company you know nothing about: Mars, Incorporated. And Mars itself is 100% owned and deeply intertwined with the Mars family, who are currently the second wealthiest (and perhaps first most secretive!) family in the United States. Tune in for one of the 20th century’s most incredible entrepreneurial stories across candy and pet care, and one that’s all the more incredible because it’s so little-known!

Sponsors:

Sentry: https://bit.ly/acquiredsentry
ServiceNow: https://bit.ly/acquiredsn
Huntress: https://bit.ly/acqhuntress

Links:

  • Hershey’s M&M response: Hershey-ets
  • Our past episodes on Berkshire Hathaway, LVMH, and Novo Nordisk
  • Worldly Partners Multi-Decade Mars Study
  • Episode sources

Carve Outs:

  • Dandelion Chocolate and the Dandelion Advent Calendar
  • Tesla Model Y + repair service
  • Silo
  • Home Alone



More Acquired!:

  • Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodes
  • Join the Slack
  • Subscribe to ACQ2
  • Merch Store!

© Copyright 2015-2025 ACQ, LLC


‍Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

AcquiredBy Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

3,459 ratings


More shows like Acquired

View all
This Week in Startups by Jason Calacanis

This Week in Startups

1,271 Listeners

a16z Podcast by Andreessen Horowitz

a16z Podcast

1,027 Listeners

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch by Harry Stebbings

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

518 Listeners

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish by Shane Parrish

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

2,635 Listeners

Founders by David Senra

Founders

1,875 Listeners

How I Built This with Guy Raz by Guy Raz | Wondery

How I Built This with Guy Raz

30,217 Listeners

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy by Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

2,313 Listeners

Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry by Ted Seides – Allocator and Asset Management Expert

Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry

802 Listeners

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

9,040 Listeners

Dwarkesh Podcast by Dwarkesh Patel

Dwarkesh Podcast

390 Listeners

The Memo by Howard Marks by Oaktree Capital Management

The Memo by Howard Marks

405 Listeners

Business Breakdowns by Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Business Breakdowns

345 Listeners

ACQ2 by Acquired by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal

ACQ2 by Acquired

210 Listeners

In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen by Norges Bank Investment Management

In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen

188 Listeners

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley by BG2Pod

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley

459 Listeners