MARS FAMILY
McLean and Arlington. The Mars family began making butter-cream candies in 1911 and hasn’t looked back since. Today Mars Inc. ranks as one of the largest privately held companies in the world, with estimated sales last year of $17 billion, up nearly 5 percent from 2003. The company employs more than 31,000 people and is known for such signature products as M&Ms, Snickers, Milky Way and, of course, the Mars bar. John Franklin Mars, 69, still runs the company as CEO and resides in Arlington. Older brother Forrest Mars Jr., 74, lives in McLean. Younger sister Jacqueline Mars, 65, lives in Bedminster, N.J., and has an estate in Middleburg. Forbes ranked the three family members 32nd on this year’s list of the world’s richest people.
Net worth: $10.4 billion
Confidence: B

SHEILA C. JOHNSON
The Plains and Wellington, Fla. 56. Philanthropist and CEO of Salamander Hospitality. She has opened Market Salamander, a gourmet country market in Middleburg and plans a 120-room resort and spa just north of town in Loudoun County. Co-founder of Black Entertainment Television.
Net worth: $1.5 billion
Confidence: A

WINNIE JOHNSON- MARQUART
Virginia Beach. 45. Johnson-Marquart inherited $1.5 billion after her father, Sam Johnson, died in May 2004, according to Forbes. Johnson was chairman emeritus of Racine, Wis.-based S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., the makers of such household products as Windex window cleaner, Pledge furniture polish and Glade air freshener. She joined the family company in 1986 as project coordinator in the corporate public affairs office. Johnson-Marquart also is an investor in Windmark Studios, her husband’s music studio in Virginia Beach. Serves as president of The Johnson Family Foundation, a member of the board of directors of the Johnson Financial Group and is a member of the board of trustees at Norfolk Academy.
Net worth: $1.5 billion
Confidence: B

FRANK BATTEN SR.
Virginia Beach. 78. Retired chairman, CEO and founder of Norfolk-based Landmark Com-munications. Has enjoyed a long relationship with Old Dominion University, serving as one of its first rectors, dedicating the Batten Arts and Letters Building in 1972 and donating $32 million to the school in 2003. His son, Frank Jr., now runs Landmark and also has served as a rector. The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges honored Frank Batten Sr. and his wife, Jane, earlier this year for his 1999 donation that provided the initial grant establishing the foundation’s Ethics Bowl Competition for college students. The longtime philanthropist also has pledged $2 million to the USS Monitor Center at the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News. Forbes magazine pegs Batten’s net worth at $1.4 billion and this year ranks him as the 488th richest person in the world — down from 377th last year in part because the weak U.S. dollar pushed up foreigners’ rankings.
Net worth: $1.4 billion
Confidence: B

SMITH/KOGOD FAMILY
Crystal City and Washington, D.C. The Charles E. Smith companies were founded in 1946 and today are among Virginia’s largest real estate development firms. Charles E. Smith Residential, which specializes in buying, building and operating apartment buildings in Washington, went public in 1994 and merged with real estate investment trust Archstone Communities Trust (now Archstone-Smith) of Englewood, Colo., in 2001. Another division, Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty, is part of Vornado Realty Trust, a company whose 25 million square feet of office holdings include about 60 buildings in the Washington area. Charles E. Smith died in 1995 at 94. Son Robert H. Smith, 76, remains a director of Vornado and Archstone-Smith. Son-in-law Robert P. Kogod, 73, also serves as a director at both companies. A major project this year included a makeover of Crystal City, where company has more than 10 million square feet of commercial space.
Net worth: $1 billion
Confidence: A

THE SINGHS
Alexandria. Rajendra Singh, 50, grew up in a village that lacked electricity or telephones, but after graduating from the University of Maine and Southern Methodist University he went on to lead some of Northern Virginia’s hottest telecom firms before they flamed out. His wife, Neera, 46, graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology. Together they founded LCC International of McLean in 1983. They’re no longer involved in management and sold 420,000 shares last year. Yet they remain among the largest shareholders with stock worth nearly $38 million. They sold $19.6 million worth of LCC shares in 2003-04. Rajendra co-founded Teligent Inc. and was instrumental pushing last year’s sale of the telecom venture to First Avenue Networks of Charlottesville for $99 million. After making the Forbes list of the wealthiest Americans in the late 1990s, they dropped out when the telecom sector went bust. The Singhs established an engineering scholarship in their names in March at the University of Maine, where Rajendra received the College of Engineering’s highest alumni award in 2003.
Net worth: $930 million
Confidence: C

STEPHEN M. CASE
McLean. 46. He took America Online from a regional startup to the nation’s largest dial-up Internet service before merging the company with Time Warner Inc. Since stepping down as chairman at Time Warner after the disastrous merger, Case has been spending more time in his native Hawaii. He is principal investor in publicly traded Maui Land and Pineapple, controlling more than 42 percent of its stock. He also owns 80 percent of the stock and is chairman of Denver-based Exclusive Resorts LLC, a private luxury club that leases mansions to well-heeled vacationers. Exclusive Resorts and Maui Land, along with Marriott International, are investing $300 million to refurbish Kapalua Resort in Maui. In addition, Case is launching a company called Revolution, using $500 million of his own money to invest in startups in health care, resort vacations and wellness. Its first acquisition in April was Wisdom Media Group’s TV and radio network focusing on health and wellness. Another Case acquisition includes 70 percent ownership of Tucson-based wellness company Miraval. Still serves as a director at Time Warner.
Net worth: $825 million
Confidence: B

ROGER W. SANT
Middleburg and Georgetown. 72. Continues as a director on board of AES Corp, an Arlington-based global energy company, which he co-founded with Dennis Bakke in 1981. Sant owns more than 22 million shares, or 3.4 percent of the company, as well as other business holdings. In 2004, AES posted revenues of $9.5 billion, an increase of 13 percent over 2003, and its stock price rose as well. Company is pushing ahead with expansion into wind generation. Sant is chairman of the executive committee of the Smithsonian Board of Regents and serves on the board of the National Symphony. His wife, Vicki, is president and a trustee of the National Gallery of Art and a trustee of Stanford University. The couple’s Summit Foundation provides grants for Washington-area projects, in-cluding restoration of the Anacostia River.
Net worth: $750 million
Confidence: A

FRANK BATTEN JR.
Norfolk. 46. The chairman and CEO of Landmark Commun-ications Inc. took a beating in the stock market as his investment in Red Hat plunged 50 percent last year. Still, his $73 million investment in the Linux operating system software company has proved profitable in the long term. Batten oversees privately held Landmark properties including The Virginian-Pilot, The Roanoke Times and the Weather Channel.
Net worth: $700 million.
Confidence: C

RICHARD D. FAIRBANK
McLean. 54. Chairman and CEO of Capital One Financial Corp. The credit-card company was on a roll last year, earning more than $1.5 billion (up 26 percent over 2003) and proving that it had fully recovered from problems earlier in the decade when federal regulators slapped its wrists for growing too fast. In March, Capital One announced a $5.3 billion acquisition of New Orleans-based Hibernia Corp., a bank with operations in Louisiana and Texas. It trimmed its work force in Richmond, where it’s the largest nongovernmental employer, by cutting more than 1,600 jobs last year. That didn’t stop the Virginia General Assembly from naming Fairbank the state’s 2005 Industrialist of the Year for his contributions to industry. Fairbank does not take a salary, receiving his compensation in Capital One stock options. Holdings (including exercisable options) total more than 10 million shares, or about 4 percent of the company’s total shares. Fairbank is part owner of the Washington Capitals pro hockey franchise and two pro basketball teams — the Washington Wizards (men’s) and Washington Mystics (women’s) — through Lincoln Holdings, which also has an interest in the MCI Center and the Baltimore-Washington Ticketmaster franchise.
Net worth: $500 million
Confidence: B

WES FOSTER
McLean. 70. The hot real estate market, particularly in Northern Virginia and Washington, continues to fuel growth of The Long & Foster Cos., the largest privately owned residential real estate firm in the U.S. Closed home sales for the company's real estate division reached a record $36.1 billion in 2004, representing a big chunk of the company's overall sales volume of $56.3 billion, which includes mortgage, title insurance and insurance operations. “It was another year of unprecedented growth for Long & Foster and for the real estate industry,” says Foster, chairman, CEO and co-founder. The company employs more than 14,700 in 214 offices in seven states. Sales were up to $12.3 billion in Virginia and West Virginia, the company’s biggest region. Last year, Long & Foster created a new sales division in Southwest Virginia by buying two top-rated Roanoke real estate firms, Owens & Co. Realtors and Boone & Co. The 1956 Virginia Military Institute graduate recently pledged $6 million for improvements to the school’s stadium. The company also established a $200,000 college scholarship fund for high school seniors. In March, B’nai B’rith International honored Foster with its Corporate Achievement Award.
Net worth: $500 million
Confidence: C

CARL W. SMITH
Charlottesville. 78. Majority owner and director emeritus of Amvest Corp., a privately held company based in Char-lottesville that owns coal mining operations, gas exploration and production companies, a railroad and financial investments. In 2004, the company’s revenues were $175 million, about the same as the year before, with permit delays in its coal operations reducing sales in a high-priced spot market. Smith and his wife, Hunter, have donated millions to Smith’s alma mater, the University of Virginia, and more recently gave $1 million to the renovation of The Paramount, a 74-year-old art deco theatre and performing arts center that was renovated and recently reopened in Charlottesville.
Net worth: $500 million
Confidence: B

GOTTWALD FAMILY
Richmond. If ever a family fit the description of being a business conglomerate, it’s the Gottwalds, who hold substantial interests in three Richmond-based companies. One of those companies is Albemarle Corp., a maker of specialty chemicals, which reported earnings of $54.8 million last year, down from $71.8 million the year before largely because of charges connected with an acquisition. The company’s chairman is William M. Gottwald, 57. His father, Floyd D. Gottwald Jr., 82, is vice chairman of the company. A second company, Tredegar Corp., makes plastic film and aluminum extrusions. It earned $29.2 million last year after a loss of $26.4 million the year before. John D. Gottwald, 50, another son of Floyd Gottwald, is chairman of Tredegar. The third company is NewMarket Corp., a holding company formed last year for two subsidiaries — Ethyl Corp. and Afton Corp. — both in the petroleum products business. NewMarket reported earnings last year of $33 million, down from $37 million in 2003 in part because of higher raw material costs and greater R&D spending. Bruce C. Gottwald, 71, Floyd’s younger brother, is NewMarket’s chairman while his son, Thomas E. Gottwald, 44, is president and CEO. The companies are spinoffs from the original Ethyl Corp., which the Gottwalds have run since 1962. The Gottwalds’ combined holdings are worth at least $450 million. Four family members, all of whom graduated from Virginia Military Institute, were honored last year with a Spirit of VMI Award for their support of the school’s athletic program. The family has established numerous endowment funds for scholarships and athletics.
Net worth: $470 million
Confidence: C

ROBINS FAMILY
Richmond. One of Richmond’s most generous families, the Robinses have thrown their support behind the city’s proposed Virginia Center for the Performing Arts. Family has already donated $2 million and recently increased its pledge to $5 million. Recent donations also include $1.1 million in support of revitalizing historical interpretation program at Jamestown Settlement, a living-history museum that expects many visitors in 2007 during the 400th anniversary of the first permanent English settlement. The late E. Claiborne Robins Sr., who headed the A.H. Robins pharmaceutical company, began the family’s philanthropic efforts with a $50 million gift to the University of Richmond, his alma mater. Matriarch Lora Robins, son E. Claiborne Robins Jr. and daughters Ann Carol Robins Marchant and Betty Robins Porter serve as directors for the family’s Robins Foundation. Claiborne Jr. also runs a firm, E.C. Robins International, which includes ECR Pharmaceuticals, Virginia Air Corp. and ECR Pharma Gmbh. In 2003, the family gave $4.8 million in grants and over the years has given away millions more to various causes.
Net worth: $450 million
Confidence: C

THEODORE J. LEONSIS
McLean. 49. One of last remaining founders of Dulles-based America Online who are still with the company. He now serves as vice chairman and president of AOL Time Warner’s Audience set of businesses. Also owns Washington Capitals, a National Hockey League team, through Lincoln Holdings, an investment group that includes Capitals President Richard Patrick and Capital One Financial Chairman Richard Fair-bank. A former mayor of Orchid, Fla., Leonsis sits on the boards of several charities, including Best Buddies and the Leonsis Family Foundation.
Net worth: $425 million
Confidence: A

C. DANIEL CLEMENTE
McLean. 68. Chairman of the board of Clemente Development Co. Graduated from Georgetown Law School and started his own law firm. Next ventured into commercial real estate in Northern Virginia. Provides professional consulting services to wealthy individuals. Serves as trustee for agricultural firm Cargill Inc., the 19th-largest private U.S. company with $63 billion in sales. Donated $12,000 to Republican political organizations in 2004. Well-known for rescuing Digital Commerce Corp. from bankruptcy and remains chief stockholder in company, which runs e-commerce systems that connect suppliers with government procurement officers. Founded Community Bank and Trust in Springfield and First Commercial Bank of Arlington. Major donor to Clemyjontri Park, a McLean playground designed for children with physical disabilities.
Net worth: $410 million
Confidence: B

CARL D. SILVER
Fredericksburg. 78. Silver has two major projects under development. The Silver Cos. broke ground last fall on a 149-room hotel that’s part of its 2,400-acre Celebrate Virginia tourist attraction along Interstate 95. Two golf courses are already open. Plans call for adding 2.4 million square feet of corporate offices, retail space and the $200 million National Slavery Museum championed by former governor and current Richmond Mayor L. Doug Wilder. Silver’s company also is building a corporate headquarters in Florida where he owns a home. Silver, wounded in World War II, was a millionaire by age 35 from selling used cars. He started investing in real estate in the 1960s.
Net worth: $405 million
Confidence: C

ESTES FAMILY
Richmond. Family owns Estes Express Line trucking company. Since 1996, company has created ExpressLink, a network of carriers through the U.S and Canada, and added commercial markets in Mexico. Another expansion move includes Estes Air Transportation Service, which provides delivery services through alliances with major airlines. Company employs more than 10,000 workers, has a fleet of more than 19,000 tractors and trailers, and ranks in top 20 of largest freight carriers in U.S. In 2004, revenue exceeded $1 billion. Robey Estes Jr., 53, serves as president. His father, Robey W. Estes Sr., 84, helped build the company that his father founded in 1931.
Net worth: $400 million+
Confidence: C