When Jazwares acquired Kellytoy in 2020, the deal added more than just a toy line. It brought Squishmallows, soft plush figures with individual names, assigned birthdays they call squishdays, and full character backstories, into a company that had spent two decades building through entertainment licensing. What followed was a viral expansion on TikTok that drew celebrity attention from Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian and pushed annual unit sales past 100 million. Retail prices for individual Squishmallows ranged from $5 to $30.
The Founder Who Built the Foundation
Judd Zebersky, the attorney-turned-entrepreneur who founded Jazwares, had laid the groundwork for that kind of growth years before Squishmallows entered the picture. After earning a JD from the University of Miami School of Law and practicing law, Judd Zebersky shifted course in 1997, flying to China to learn toy manufacturing in person. He spent months inside factories in southern China, studying injection molding, blow molding, rotocasting, engineering, and design. That direct knowledge shaped the company’s hiring and operational practices for the years that followed.
Jazwares grew through licensed entertainment partnerships early on, with products connected to Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Fortnite. The acquisition of Wicked Cool Toys in 2019 expanded the company’s licensed portfolio further. Alleghany Capital Corporation invested in 2014 and took a majority stake in 2016. Berkshire Hathaway absorbed the company through its Alleghany acquisition in Q4 2022.
Recognition and Transition
Jazwares appeared on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list and received workplace honors from Fast Company and Fortune. Judd Zebersky received the South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEOs award in 2024. The company’s philanthropic arm, Jazwares Cares, donated millions of toys to children’s hospitals, Title I schools, and organizations including Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, and Ronald McDonald House. The Zebersky family contributed $2 million to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026. David Neustein assumed the role on March 23, 2026. . Visit this page on LinkedIn, for more information.
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