Mattel is not owned by another company. It is an independent public company traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker MAT, with ownership spread across institutional investors and individual shareholders.
Mattel toys are not made in the United States. Production happens across a global factory network in Mexico, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, with its largest single manufacturing hub located in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
This article covers who owns Mattel, where its toys are actually manufactured, its founding history, and how it compares to its longtime rival Hasbro.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Mattel?
Mattel is a publicly traded company with no controlling parent, listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker MAT. Current company and brand information is available on Mattel’s official corporate website.
The largest shareholders are institutional firms such as Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street, which hold shares on behalf of millions of individual fund and retirement account investors rather than exercising personal control over the company. Ynon Kreiz has served as Mattel’s Chairman and CEO since 2018 and has led the company’s push into film and streaming content built around its toy brands.
Mattel went public in 1960 and has been listed on a major US stock exchange ever since, making it one of the longest continuously public toy companies in the world.
Where Are Mattel Toys Made?
Mattel toys are manufactured almost entirely outside the United States, despite the company’s headquarters remaining in El Segundo, California.
In 2022, Mattel invested more than 47 million dollars to consolidate much of its North American manufacturing into a single site in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, which is now the company’s largest manufacturing hub in the world. The plant employs more than 3,500 workers and produces items including the Barbie Dreamhouse and Fisher Price Power Wheels.
Mattel’s largest Hot Wheels manufacturing site is in Malaysia, where the company has operated for more than four decades and expanded production capacity in recent years. Additional manufacturing takes place in China, Indonesia, and Thailand, with Barbie dolls produced primarily at Mattel’s long running factory complex in Indonesia.
What Brands Does Mattel Own?
Mattel’s portfolio centers on a small number of major franchise brands rather than dozens of smaller lines. Barbie remains the company’s single most valuable property, followed closely by Hot Wheels and Fisher Price.
Other well known Mattel brands include American Girl, Thomas and Friends, Matchbox, Monster High, Polly Pocket, Masters of the Universe, and the card game UNO. Mattel also holds licensing agreements to produce toys for outside franchises owned by companies such as Disney and Warner Bros Discovery.
In recent years Mattel has expanded beyond physical toys into film, television, and digital games, most notably with the 2023 Barbie movie, which grossed more than 1.4 billion dollars worldwide and significantly boosted the brand’s visibility.
When Was Mattel Founded?
Mattel was founded in January 1945 in a Los Angeles garage by Harold Matson and the husband and wife team of Elliot and Ruth Handler. More on the company’s early history is available on Wikipedia.
The company’s name combines part of Matson’s surname with Elliot’s first name. Mattel originally made picture frames before shifting into dollhouse furniture built from leftover frame scraps, which eventually led the company into toys full time.
Barbie launched in 1959 and became Mattel’s best selling toy in history, while Hot Wheels followed in 1968 and quickly became a dominant force in die cast toy cars. Mattel went public in 1960 and moved its headquarters to El Segundo, California in 1991, where it remains today.
Mattel vs Hasbro: Who Makes Each?
Mattel and Hasbro are the two largest toy companies most American shoppers encounter, and both are independent public companies rather than being owned by one another or a shared parent.
Mattel is headquartered in El Segundo, California and trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker MAT, while Hasbro is headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker HAS. Both companies manufacture the large majority of their products overseas, primarily across China and Southeast Asia, with Mattel leaning more heavily on Mexico for North American volume.
The two companies also differ in brand focus. Mattel leans on physical toy lines like Barbie and Hot Wheels alongside a growing film business, while Hasbro’s portfolio leans more heavily on games, trading cards, and licensed entertainment properties.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Mattel Toys
Are Mattel toys made in the USA?
No, Mattel toys are not made in the USA. Production takes place primarily in Mexico, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, even though Mattel’s corporate headquarters remains in El Segundo, California.
Who is the CEO of Mattel?
Ynon Kreiz has served as Mattel’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since April 2018. He previously worked in the media industry and has focused Mattel’s strategy on turning its toy brands into films, television shows, and digital content.
Where are Barbie dolls manufactured?
Barbie dolls are manufactured primarily at Mattel’s factory complex in Indonesia, which has produced Barbie products since the early 1990s. Some Barbie accessories and playsets, including the Barbie Dreamhouse, are produced at Mattel’s plant in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Is Mattel bigger than Hasbro?
Mattel and Hasbro are closely matched, with Mattel generally ranking as the world’s second largest toy maker by revenue behind The Lego Group. Hasbro competes closely with Mattel, and the two companies frequently trade places depending on the year and category.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.