Mattel was founded in 1945 by Ruth Handler and Elliot Handler, and Harold “Matt” Matsone, who was a friend of the couple.

Over the past few decades, the brand has launched a series of famous toy franchises that are hugely popular with children. Barbie, Hotwheels, Fisher Price, American Girl, and Uno are just a few of these brands.

Starting in the 1990s, Mattel, aiming to expand its business, began making several acquisitions. Since its founding, the company has made over 20 acquisitions, which were crucial to maintaining the company as a leader in the toy industry, with revenues of US$1.4 billion (~$6 billion) last year.