Candymaker Mars Paid $1.5 Billion to Family Shareholders in 2024

Candy and pet-care giant Mars Inc. paid its family shareholders $1.5 billion in dividends last year, more than triple the amount it distributed in 2023 and 2022.

The payouts were disclosed as dividends to common stockholders in a prospectus for investors, a copy of which was obtained by Bloomberg. The McLean, Virginia-based company is selling bondsfor its nearly $36 billion purchase of rival snack maker Kellanova. The filing showed the fifth-generation family business had $54.6 billion in net sales in 2024, up 4.6% from a year earlier.

A spokesperson for Mars declined to comment.

Mars Inc.’s M&Ms branded products on a grocery store shelf.

Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg

Mars is owned by ...