If you organize by revenue, Mattel Inc. is the world’s largest toy company. It was founded in 1945 by Matt Matson and Elliot Handler, who combined their first two names to create the company name. Mattel’s longest-running and most iconic toy product is the Barbie doll. Barbie was created in 1959 by Ruth Handler, the wife of founder Elliot Handler. At the time, there was no precedent in the United States for dolls for girls that actually looked like grown women. Originally the idea was met with a lot of skepticism, but Ruth recognized that it was an untapped potential market and ultimately persevered. Because of her passion, Mattel became the first company to successfully capitalize on an adult figure doll marketed specifically to an audience of girls looking to play pretend as an adult role model.
The marketing of Barbie was another world first for Mattel. This was the first time a toy had been widely marketed in the untested media of television. It was a huge success, and the example has since been widely copied over the decades by toymakers looking to gain an audience for their new products. Mattel’s success can be attributed, at least in part, to its bold actions that have made it an innovative pioneer in the children’s toy industry.
Mattel owns the rights to a host of different famous and classic toy brands, including Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Cabbage Patch Kids, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, See ‘n Say, Fisher Price, Matchbox, Pound Puppies and Polly. Pocket, among others. Mattel also makes dolls and action figures for a variety of different fictional favorites like Monster High, Ghost Busters, Batman, Superman, Toy Story, He-Man, She-Ra, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Justice League Unlimited, Rugrats, and The Los Angeles. Simpsons, among others.
Mattel also owns the rights to make several popular games including UNO, Skip Bo, Pictionary, Five-0, Lie Detector, Apples to Apples, Othello, Scene It, Kerplunk, and more. Mattel is unmatched in its extensive product lines and has been in the business of providing quality toys and games for children and the entire family for over 50 years. They have their corporate hands on so many products out there that we all know and love that it’s sometimes amazing to realize just how much of a part of our lives this company really is.
Far beyond simply manufacturing Barbie, as incredibly iconic and popular as that line of dolls has become, Mattel is a major force in the toy manufacturing industry that has created an extremely wide range of products that are often iconic. in their own right, not to mention extremely popular. It is impossible to go through childhood without being introduced to a product that has been envisioned and created by the innovative and pioneering minds at Mattel Inc. This company surely deserves our recognition as perhaps the biggest player in the toy game, creating quality toys. that kids are sure to enjoy for generations to come.
Check out our author’s chart below for a current list of the top 10 toys of the year.