Jazwares did not become a toy industry name through a single product launch or a fortunate licensing deal. The company’s growth reflects a deliberate sequence of decisions made by Judd Zebersky over nearly 30 years: licensing agreements with major entertainment brands, targeted acquisitions, and a late-stage viral phenomenon that put Jazwares on a different level of visibility.
Three Pillars of Growth
The first pillar was licensing. Jazwares built early momentum by securing partnerships with properties that had proven commercial audiences, including Minecraft, Fortnite, and Sonic the Hedgehog. The second pillar was acquisition. In 2019, Jazwares acquired Wicked Cool Toys, which added Pokémon to its lineup. In 2020, the company acquired Kellytoy, bringing Squishmallows along with it. The third pillar was the cultural explosion of Squishmallows itself. The plush toy line, featuring characters with names, birthdays, and personal backstories, spread rapidly on TikTok and attracted celebrity fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. More than 100 million units moved in a single year.
Judd Zebersky’s path to running a toy company was not conventional. He earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, opened his own firm, and then redirected his energy into consumer products. “I looked at my wife, and I said, ‘I want to make toys,'” he recalled. “She said, ‘Follow your dreams,’ and that’s what I did.” In 1997, he traveled to China and immersed himself in factory operations, learning injection molding, rotocasting, blow molding, and design engineering. That firsthand knowledge built the operational credibility on which Jazwares eventually ran.
Leaving With the Company at Its Strongest
Alleghany Capital Corporation invested in Jazwares in 2014, took a majority position in 2016, and was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2022, which brought Jazwares along. Through each ownership transition, Judd Zebersky maintained operational control until his March 20, 2026 departure. The company landed on recognition lists from TIME, Fast Company, and Fortune, and Zebersky personally earned honors from the South Florida Business Journal and The Business Report. Jazwares Cares, the philanthropic arm he built from the beginning, donated millions of toys and partnered with organizations including Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, and Ronald McDonald House. David Neustein became CEO on March 23, 2026. Visit this page for more information.
Find more information about Judd Zebersky on https://www.linkedin.com/posts/university-of-miami-school-of-law_judd-and-laura-zebersky-jd-93-toymakers-activity-7249433715506843648-E0Af