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Forrest Mars JrFormer head of Mars Inc
Country:
 USA |
Content:
Biography of Forrest Mars Jr.
Forrest Mars Jr., the former CEO of Mars Inc, is the owner of an impressive ranch located along Montana's Tongue River. The ranch is situated in an area that is highly sought after by companies hoping to access the extensive coal and natural gas reserves in the region. Forrest Mars Jr. is the son of Sir Forrest Mars and the grandson of Frank C. Mars, the founders of the giant American company Mars Incorporated. With a net worth of $10.4 billion, he ranked 24th on Forbes' list of the world's richest people in 2004.
A Billionaire Recluse
Today, Forrest Mars Jr. is a billionaire recluse, with his family owning the Mars empire. He is now regarded as a champion against the activities of certain companies seeking to expand development in specific industrial areas of the country, such as gas and coal. Despite owning an impressive ranch along the Tongue River, Forrest Mars Jr. finds himself embroiled in legal battles with numerous companies who are eager to exploit the valuable resources on his land. "It may seem like the big guy (energy companies) is picking on the little guy (ranch owner). But in this case, it's different..." claims Bruce Williams, Vice President of Fidelity Exploration and Production, in a court case.
The Diamond Cross Ranch
Forrest Mars Jr.'s ranch, known as the Diamond Cross Ranch, spans 82 acres of land and is rich in valuable resources. Naturally, numerous companies are vying to obtain these resources and are actively fighting against the ranch owner in the courtrooms. The dispute arises from the fact that landowners in many Western states are not necessarily the owners of the mineral rights beneath the surface. Additionally, there are certain agreements between Mars and some oil and gas companies for the lease of his ranch. While state legislation grants companies the right to enter Mars' land and begin operations, Forrest has thus far prevented any such access.
A Battle for Rights
Considering that the state approves and supports oil and gas development, and Forrest Mars Jr. opposes the intrusion of extractors onto his ranch, the disputes have become intense. Beth Kaeding, president of the Northern Plains Resource Council, stated, "Forrest has a lot of money, but he is in the same boat as anyone else. If he doesn't own the mineral rights, it doesn't matter how vast his ranch is, how politically powerful he is, or what his financial position is. Mineral rights outweigh all other rights."
