Not many toy companies can claim a connection to Berkshire Hathaway. Jazwares can, and the path to that relationship runs directly through the decisions Judd Zebersky made as the company scaled.

Jazwares caught the attention of Alleghany Capital Corporation in 2014, when the investment firm took an initial stake in the business. Two years later, in 2016, Alleghany acquired a majority interest. Both transactions were structured to preserve Zebersky’s control over day-to-day operations, allowing the company to keep moving quickly without the disruption that often follows an outside acquisition.

Berkshire Hathaway Enters the Picture

The Berkshire Hathaway connection came indirectly. When Berkshire acquired Alleghany in the fourth quarter of 2022, Jazwares came along with the deal. The toy company founded by Judd Zebersky in 1997 became part of one of the most closely watched business portfolios in the world, a development that reflected just how far the company had traveled from its origins in Chinese manufacturing plants.

By that point, the portfolio Zebersky had assembled was already generating significant momentum. Jazwares held licensed agreements with Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Fortnite. The 2019 acquisition of Wicked Cool Toys added Pokémon, and the 2020 purchase of Kellytoy brought Squishmallows aboard. The plush line sold over 100 million units in a single year, drawing celebrity fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. Individual units ranged in price from $5 to $30.

A Company That Earned Its Recognition

Jazwares landed on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list and received workplace honors from both Fast Company and Fortune. Zebersky personally earned the South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEOs recognition in 2024 and The Business Report’s Top 50 Entrepreneurs distinction in 2023.

On March 20, 2026, Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO. David Neustein, the company’s Chief Operating Officer for 14 years, assumed the role on March 23. The company now employs approximately 1,400 people and distributes products across more than 100 countries worldwide. Visit this page for related information.

Find more information about Judd Zebersky on https://www.jazwares.com/about-us/leadership