Mattel, Inc. is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company founded in 1945. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, the corporation was established by Harold "Matt" Matson and Elliot Handler. The company name is a portmanteau of the founders' names.
The company initially manufactured picture frames and dollhouse furniture before transitioning to a primary focus on the toy industry. In 1959, Mattel introduced the Barbie doll, created by Ruth Handler, which remains one of the company's most significant and globally recognized brands. Other major proprietary brands include Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Masters of the Universe, and Monster High. The company also holds licenses for various third-party properties and owns the Matchbox and Thomas & Friends brands through acquisitions.
Mattel operates through segments including North America, International, and American Girl. In addition to physical toy manufacturing, the company maintains an entertainment division, Mattel Films, which oversees the development of cinematic and media projects based on its intellectual property. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol MAT. Throughout its history, Mattel has grown through a series of strategic acquisitions, most notably the purchase of Fisher-Price in 1993 and Pleasant Company (the maker of American Girl dolls) in 1998.
