The trajectory of Judd Zebersky’s career does not follow a conventional business school template. He earned a JD from the University of Miami School of Law, passed the bar, and opened his own law firm. Then, in the late 1990s, he walked away from it entirely. “I looked at my wife, and I said, ‘I want to make toys,'” he recalled. The decision sent him to China in 1997, where he spent months learning toy manufacturing firsthand, with no prior experience in the field.
Factory Floors and Foundational Knowledge
Zebersky did not observe from a distance. Judd Zebersky studied injection molding and blow molding, worked through rotocasting, and absorbed design engineering and hair rooting techniques inside actual factories across southern China. “I visited toy factories throughout the south of China,” he said, “and immersed myself in the manufacturing, design, and engineering of toys.” That working knowledge influenced how Jazwares hired, trained, and structured its teams from the start.
Jazwares built an early reputation through licensed entertainment products, with partnerships tied to Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Fortnite. Strategic acquisitions widened the portfolio: Wicked Cool Toys in 2019 and Kellytoy in 2020, the latter bringing Squishmallows and a Pokémon license. Alleghany Capital Corporation invested in Jazwares in 2014 and took a majority stake in 2016. Berkshire Hathaway acquired Alleghany and absorbed Jazwares in the fourth quarter of 2022.
An Exit With Recognition Intact
Squishmallows, with their round soft forms and character backstories, became a viral sensation on TikTok. The brand attracted celebrity fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian and sold more than 100 million units in a single year at prices ranging from $5 to $30. Jazwares earned placement on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list and received recognition from Fast Company and Fortune. Judd Zebersky received the South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEOs award in 2024. Jazwares Cares, the company’s charitable foundation, donated millions of toys to hospitals, schools, and nonprofits including Make-A-Wish and Toys for Tots. Zebersky departed as CEO on March 20, 2026, closing nearly 30 years with the company he founded. Refer to this article for related information.
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