Mattel was founded in 1945 by Harold "Matt" Matson and Elliot Handler (hence the name "matt-el"). Handler's wife Ruth Handler would later become president and is credited with establishing the Barbie product line for the company in 1959.
Mattel Inc. (NYSE: MAT) is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. Its imports include Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles.
Today the Barbie line is responsible for more than 80% of Mattel's profits. In 2007, Mattel voluntarily issued major recalls of its imports (see 2007 Product recalls section). Mattel closed its last American factory, originally part of the Fisher-Price division, in 2002.
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