Mattel facts for kids
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Logo used since 2019
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| Public | |
| Traded as |
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| Industry | Toys and entertainment |
| Founded | January 1945, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters | El Segundo, California,
U.S.
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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| Products |
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| Brands | |
| Revenue |  US$5.44 billion (2023) |
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Operating income
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 US$562 million (2023) |
| US$214 million (2023) |
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| Total assets | US$6.44 billion (2023) |
| Total equity | US$2.15 billion (2023) |
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Number of employees
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c. 33,000 (December 2023) |
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| Subsidiaries |
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Mattel, Inc. is a huge American company that makes toys and entertainment. It was started in January 1945 in Los Angeles by Harold Matson, Ruth Handler, and Elliot Handler. Today, its main office is in El Segundo, California.
Mattel sells its products in more than 150 countries around the world. It is one of the biggest toy companies globally. Some of its most famous brands include Barbie and Hot Wheels. These brands have been named top toys in the world!
History of Mattel
How Mattel Started
Mattel was founded in January 1945 by Harold "Matt" Matson and a married couple, Elliot and Ruth Handler. They started the company in a garage in Los Angeles. The name "Mattel" comes from "Matt" (from Matson) and "El" (from Elliot).
At first, they sold picture frames. Then, they started making dollhouse furniture from the leftover wood. In 1946, Harold Matson left the company.
Early Toys and Big Successes
In 1947, Mattel had its first popular toy, a small guitar called "Uke-A-Doodle." The company officially became a corporation in 1948. In 1950, the Magic 8-Ball was invented, which Mattel now owns.
Mattel was one of the first toy companies to advertise on TV. They sponsored The Mickey Mouse Club TV show. In 1957, they released classic toys like the Fisher-Price Corn Popper and the Xylophone. Mattel later bought Fisher-Price in 1993.
The famous Barbie doll first appeared on March 9, 1959. She quickly became Mattel's best-selling toy ever! In 1960, Mattel introduced Chatty Cathy, a doll that could talk when you pulled a string. This toy changed the toy industry. The Ken doll joined Barbie in 1961.
Mattel also released the Barbie Dreamhouse in 1962. In 1965, they created the See 'n Say talking toy. Barbie even went to the Moon in 1965, four years before real astronauts!
Hot Wheels and New Ideas
On May 18, 1968, Hot Wheels cars were released. A team of inventors, including a rocket scientist, created them. Hot Wheels became super popular! That same year, Christie, Barbie's first Black friend, was introduced.
In 1969, Mattel changed its logo to the "red sun" design. In 1970, Hot Wheels partnered with famous drag racers Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen. Their race cars were even made into Hot Wheels toys.
Mattel also started getting into movies and TV shows in 1970. The popular card game Uno was invented in 1971 and Mattel bought it in 1996.
Changes and Growth
After some changes in leadership, Arthur S. Spear took charge of Mattel in 1975. He helped the company become successful again. In 1978, the Mattel Children's Foundation was started to help kids.
Mattel also got into electronic games in 1977. They made handheld games and later game consoles.
In 1980, Mattel introduced the first diverse Barbie dolls, including Hispanic and African-American Barbies. This led to Barbies from over 40 countries!
In 1982, the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe action figures were released. These toys inspired comic books, a cartoon show, and a movie.
In 1985, Mattel launched the Barbie “We Girls Can Do Anything” ad campaign. They also released the CEO / Day-to-Night Barbie to celebrate women in leadership.
John W. Amerman became the new chairman in the late 1980s. He focused on popular brands like Barbie, which helped the company's sales grow a lot.
In 1988, Mattel partnered with The Walt Disney Company to make toys based on Disney characters. In 1991, Mattel moved its main office to El Segundo, California.
New Brands Join the Family
In 1992, Mattel created the first President Barbie. Barbie has "run for President" many times since then!
Mattel bought International Games in 1992, which made UNO and Skip-Bo. In 1993, they bought Fisher-Price, Inc.. Then in 1997, they acquired Tyco Toys, Inc., which owned Matchbox cars.
In 1998, Mattel bought Pleasant Company, which created the American Girl brand. They also bought Bluebird Toys, known for Polly Pocket. The first American Girl store opened in Chicago that year.
In 1997, Fisher-Price Little People toys were redesigned to look more like real kids. Hot Wheels also partnered with NASCAR drivers, making NASCAR-themed vehicles.
Mattel helped rebuild UCLA’s children’s hospital in 1998, which was renamed the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. Barbie was also added to the National Toy Hall of Fame.
In 2000, Mattel got the license to make Disney Princess dolls. They also signed a deal with Warner Bros. to make toys for Harry Potter and DC Comics characters like Superman and Batman.
In 2001, the first life-sized Hot Wheels car, the Twin Mill, was created. American Girl also started its "Girl of the Year" campaign, featuring dolls with modern stories.
In 2007, Mattel had to recall millions of toys because some had too much lead paint or magnets that could be dangerous. Mattel worked hard to fix these issues and improve toy safety.
Growing the Toy Family (2010-Present)
On June 11, 2010, Mattel launched Monster High, a popular doll line featuring the children of famous monsters. This led to other doll lines like Ever After High and Enchantimals.
In 2011, Hot Wheels set a new world record for a car jump! In 2012, Mattel bought HIT Entertainment, which owned Thomas & Friends. Mattel also introduced Ella, a bald Barbie doll, for children experiencing hair loss due to illness.
In 2013, Mattel started its own film studio, Mattel Playground Productions, to create movies and TV shows based on its brands.
Mattel bought Mega Brands in 2014. In 2015, they partnered with Google Cardboard to create an updated View-Master for virtual reality.
In 2016, Mattel acquired Fuhu, a company that made Nabi tablets. They also got the license to make toys based on the Jurassic Park movies.
In 2017, Hasbro tried to buy Mattel, but Mattel said no. In 2018, Mattel partnered with Chinese company NetEase to create mobile games. American Girl also launched "Create Your Own" dolls, letting kids design their own unique dolls.
Mattel reorganized its company in 2018. They celebrated Hot Wheels' 50th anniversary by selling a set of the original 16 cars. Thomas & Friends also partnered with the United Nations to teach kids about important global goals.
In 2019, Mattel celebrated Barbie's 60th anniversary. They released new "role model" dolls to honor inspiring women. Mattel also launched Hot Wheels ID cars with special chips for digital racing. They rebooted He-Man and the Masters of the Universe with new toys and shows.
Mattel released Hot Wheels Monster Trucks in 2019, along with live shows. They also launched "Creatable World" dolls, which are gender-neutral. The Mattel Children’s Foundation held a "Global Day of Play" to encourage play around the world.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Mattel created "Mattel Playroom," an online resource with free games and activities for families. They also launched the #ThankYouHeroes program, making action figures of essential workers like doctors and delivery drivers.
In 2021, Mattel launched a marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), allowing fans to buy digital collectibles of Barbie and Hot Wheels.
Mattel is even building a theme park called Mattel Adventure Park in Arizona, set to open in 2024! It will have rides and attractions based on Barbie, Hot Wheels, Thomas & Friends, and Uno.
Mattel in Movies and Games
Mattel has been involved in entertainment for a long time. They started advertising their toys on TV early on. In 1970, they even formed a film production company.
The Masters of the Universe cartoon show was released between 1983 and 1985, followed by a live-action movie in 1987.
Mattel's Barbie brand has many successful animated movies. Monster High and American Girl also have their own films.
In 2012, Mattel bought HIT Entertainment, which owned popular brands like Thomas & Friends. Mattel then created its own film studio, Mattel Films, in 2018. The 2023 Barbie movie was the first film released by Mattel Films.
Mattel Digital Gaming
Mattel has also grown a lot in the world of digital games. This includes video games, mobile games, and even digital collectibles like NFTs.
In 2017, Mattel and Osmo launched MindRacer, a Hot Wheels racing game for iPads. The popular UNO! game was released for phones and tablets.
Other popular Mattel games include:
- Phase 10: World Tour (2019)
- Hot Wheels Infinite Loop (2019)
- Hot Wheels Open World (2020)
- Skip-Bo (2021)
- Hot Wheels Unleashed (2021)
- He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: You have the Power (2022)
Hot Wheels Games
In September 2021, Mattel and Milestone released Hot Wheels Unleashed. This racing game lets players race customizable Hot Wheels cars in everyday places like kitchens. Players could even design their own cars, and one winning design was made into a real Hot Wheels toy!
In June 2022, Hot Wheels partnered with the Forza Horizon 5 video game to add a Hot Wheels expansion pack.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Games
In April 2022, Mattel launched a new game on Roblox called He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: You have the Power. It's a battle game where players can fight each other.
Masters of the Universe characters also appeared in the game Fall Guys for a limited time in 2022.
Minecraft and Mattel
In January 2023, Mattel, Minecraft, and Cyclone Designs released the Minecraft Creator Series Camp Enderwood map. This free download lets players enjoy a summer camp experience in Minecraft.
Barbie and Polly Pocket Games
In September 2022, Barbie and Polly Pocket characters became available in Roblox’s Livetopia game. Players could also explore Barbie’s Dreamhouse in the game. A new Barbie-themed game called Barbie DreamHouse Tycoon is also coming to Roblox.
See also
In Spanish: Mattel para niños
