When Judd Zebersky founded Jazwares in 1997, the company had no products, no staff, and a founder who had just left his law practice. By the time he stepped down as CEO in March 2026, Jazwares was a Berkshire Hathaway company with around 1,400 employees and distribution in more than 100 countries. The distance between those two points is the story of how one entrepreneur’s willingness to learn a craft from the inside out can build something lasting.

The Berkshire Hathaway Connection

Jazwares entered the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio through a sequence of ownership changes. Alleghany Capital Corporation first took a stake in 2014, eventually becoming the majority owner by 2016. When Berkshire Hathaway acquired Alleghany in 2022, Jazwares became part of Warren Buffett’s holdings. The Judd Zeberskys, who admitted initial skepticism about the arrangement, came to see Berkshire as a natural fit. “They are long-term thinkers, they care about leaders, they care about companies. We have always been the same,” Zebersky said.

That philosophical alignment made sense given how Judd Zebersky had built Jazwares in the first place. His founding approach centered on deep operational knowledge, acquired through months on Chinese factory floors learning injection molding, blow molding, and the design specifications behind toy manufacturing. Jazwares grew through licensing partnerships with Minecraft, Fortnite, and Sonic the Hedgehog before the 2020 acquisition of Kellytoy brought Squishmallows into the fold. The plush brand became a cultural touchstone, drawing celebrity fans and generating viral attention at a scale that put Jazwares on lists it had never appeared on before.

Giving Back Along the Way

Judd Zebersky’s commercial record ran alongside a consistent philanthropic commitment. Jazwares Cares, the company’s charitable arm, donated millions of toys to children’s hospitals and organizations including Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, and Ronald McDonald House. The Zeberskys personally gave $2 million to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Those contributions were built into the company’s identity from the beginning, a reflection of how Zebersky chose to lead during nearly three decades at Jazwares. Refer to this article for related information.

More about Judd Zebersky on https://toyworldmag.co.uk/jazwares-announces-departure-of-senior-leadership/