Jazwares Founder Judd Zebersky Closes a Nearly 30-Year Chapter
When Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO of Jazwares on March 20, 2026, he ended a run that began with a one-way flight to China and no manufacturing background. The company he leaves behind employs roughly 1,400 people and operates in more than 100 countries.
The origin story is well-documented but genuinely unusual. Judd Zebersky trained as a lawyer, earning his JD from the University of Miami School of Law and running his own firm. In 1997, he walked away from the profession to pursue an idea about toys. His wife’s encouragement was straightforward: follow your dreams.
A Hands-On Apprenticeship Abroad
China became his classroom. Zebersky spent months inside toy factories learning injection molding, blow molding, rotocasting, and hair rooting processes. He absorbed engineering specifications and design workflows. He traveled to remote factories in southern China along roads where motorcycles were the primary family vehicle. That grounding informed how Jazwares operated for decades.
Jazwares started with licensed products tied to entertainment brands like Minecraft, Fortnite, and Sonic the Hedgehog. In 2019, the acquisition of Wicked Cool Toys brought Pokémon into the lineup. The 2020 acquisition of Kellytoy added Squishmallows, a plush line that few could have predicted would become a cultural phenomenon.
Squishmallows went viral on TikTok. Each toy carries a name, a bio, and a squishday. The line attracted celebrity collectors including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian and sold more than 100 million units in a single year at price points between $5 and $30.
Recognition and Investment
Alleghany Capital Corporation invested in 2014 and held a majority by 2016. Berkshire Hathaway inherited the stake when it acquired Alleghany in late 2022. Zebersky kept operational control across each transition. Jazwares appeared on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list. Zebersky personally earned the South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEOs designation in 2024 and was named to The Business Report’s Top 50 Entrepreneurs list in 2023.
Philanthropy was built into the company from the start. Jazwares Cares has delivered millions of toys to children’s hospitals, schools, and organizations including Make-A-Wish and Toys for Tots. Zebersky and his wife donated $2 million to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. David Neustein assumed the CEO role on March 23, 2026. Read this article for more information.
More about Judd Zebersky on https://www.jazwares.com/about-us/leadership
When Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO of Jazwares on March 20, 2026, he ended a run that began with a one-way flight to China and no manufacturing background. The company he leaves behind employs roughly 1,400 people and operates in more than 100 countries. The origin story is well-documented but genuinely unusual. Judd Zebersky…