A company does not land on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list by accident. For Jazwares, that recognition came after years of measured growth under founder Judd Zebersky a trajectory that also produced a Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators designation and a Fortune Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production honor.

Judd Zebersky himself collected individual acknowledgment alongside his company’s recognition. The South Florida Business Journal awarded him its Ultimate CEOs honor in 2024. The Business Report placed him on its Top 50 Entrepreneurs list in 2023. Together, the recognitions painted a picture of a founder who had built something that stood up to external scrutiny at multiple levels.

A Company Built to Last

The external validation came after nearly three decades of deliberate construction. Judd Zebersky started by leaving his law practice and spending months in Chinese factories, learning injection molding, blow molding, rotocasting, and engineering design firsthand. He built Jazwares on licensed entertainment properties Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, Fortnite, Pokémon before expanding through acquisition.

Wicked Cool Toys joined in 2019. Kellytoy came in 2020, bringing Squishmallows into the portfolio. The ultrasoft collectible plush toys became a viral sensation on TikTok, with more than 100 million units sold in a single year. Celebrity fans that included Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian amplified the brand to audiences well beyond traditional toy buyers.

Alleghany Capital Corporation held a majority stake before Berkshire Hathaway acquired Alleghany in the fourth quarter of 2022. Jazwares today distributes across more than 100 countries and employs approximately 1,400 people. Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026, with David Neustein assuming the position on March 23, 2026. Visit this page for related information.

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