Who owns JAKKS Pacific is a question that leads to an interesting ownership structure — one involving a management-led buyout that took a once-public company private. JAKKS Pacific was traded on the NASDAQ for years before going through a restructuring process that resulted in private ownership. Here’s the complete story of who owns JAKKS Pacific in 2026.
🎯 JAKKS Pacific — Company Highlights
| Founded | 1995, Malibu, California |
| Founders | Jack Friedman & Stephen Berman |
| Current Ownership | Privately held (post-2022 restructuring) |
| CEO (2026) | Stephen Berman (co-founder) |
| Former Ticker | NASDAQ: JAKK (delisted 2022) |
| Headquarters | Malibu, California |
| Key Licenses | Disney, Nintendo, Nickelodeon, WWE, Disguise costumes |
Who Owns JAKKS Pacific in 2026?
JAKKS Pacific is a privately held company as of 2026. The company went through a significant financial restructuring process in 2022 that resulted in it being taken private — delisted from the NASDAQ stock exchange where it had traded under the ticker JAKK. The company is now owned by a combination of its management team and private investors who participated in the restructuring.
Stephen Berman, who co-founded JAKKS Pacific in 1995, continues to serve as CEO and retains a significant ownership stake in the private company. His continued leadership provides continuity from the company’s founding through to its current private structure.
The Founding Story: Jack and Stephen
JAKKS Pacific was founded in 1995 by Jack Friedman and Stephen Berman in Malibu, California. The name “JAKKS” is derived from the founders’ first names: Jack and Stephen (JAK + KS). The company was built around a licensing-first model — acquiring rights to popular entertainment brands and producing toys based on them, rather than investing heavily in creating original proprietary toy concepts.
This licensing approach gave JAKKS Pacific flexibility and speed. Rather than spending years and tens of millions of dollars developing original toy lines the way Mattel develops Barbie or Hasbro develops Transformers, JAKKS could quickly bring licensed products to market at lower cost and higher volume.
JAKKS Pacific Goes Public — and Faces Challenges
JAKKS Pacific went public on the NASDAQ in 1996, just one year after its founding. The company grew rapidly through the late 1990s and 2000s by securing licenses for popular franchises including WWE wrestling figures, Disney characters, Nickelodeon properties, and Nintendo characters.
The company was also known for its Disguise costume division, which became one of the largest Halloween costume manufacturers in the United States.
However, JAKKS Pacific faced increasing challenges through the 2010s. The collapse of Toys “R” Us — which had been a major retail customer — hurt the company significantly. Competition from larger players with deeper pockets for licensing deals intensified. The company reported financial losses in several consecutive years.
The 2022 Restructuring and Going Private
In 2022, JAKKS Pacific underwent a financial restructuring process that resulted in the company being delisted from the NASDAQ. The restructuring was designed to address the company’s debt load and provide a more stable financial footing. As part of this process, JAKKS transitioned from a publicly traded company to a privately held one.
Stephen Berman remained as CEO through the restructuring and continues in that role. The private structure gives JAKKS Pacific greater flexibility to manage its business without the scrutiny and reporting requirements of public company status.
JAKKS Pacific’s Key Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Jack Friedman and Stephen Berman found JAKKS Pacific in Malibu, California |
| 1996 | Company goes public on NASDAQ (ticker: JAKK) |
| Late 1990s–2000s | Rapid growth through WWE, Disney, Nickelodeon, and Nintendo licenses |
| 2004 | Acquires Disguise costume division — becomes major Halloween costume maker |
| 2018–2019 | Toys “R” Us bankruptcy significantly impacts JAKKS Pacific revenue |
| 2022 | Financial restructuring; company delisted from NASDAQ; goes private |
| 2026 | Operates as private company; Stephen Berman continues as CEO |
JAKKS Pacific’s Key Licenses and Products
| License / Brand | Product Type |
|---|---|
| Disney (Disney Princess, Frozen, etc.) | Dolls, figures, playsets |
| Nintendo (Mario, Zelda, Pokémon) | Action figures, plush, role play |
| Nickelodeon (SpongeBob, PAW Patrol) | Figures, playsets |
| WWE | Wrestling action figures |
| Disguise (owned division) | Halloween costumes |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | Action figures, plush |
My Take on JAKKS Pacific’s Ownership
JAKKS Pacific’s story illustrates the risks of the licensing-heavy toy business model. The company built itself on other people’s IP — which is smart when the licenses are flowing and the retail environment is healthy, but fragile when key retail partners (like Toys “R” Us) disappear and licensing costs increase.
Going private was probably the right move. As a public company, JAKKS was constantly scrutinized for its thin margins and debt load. As a private company, it can restructure at its own pace, renegotiate licenses, and focus on product lines that work without having to justify every decision to Wall Street analysts.
Stephen Berman’s continued leadership is a positive sign — he knows the business and the licensing landscape better than almost anyone. Whether JAKKS can find a sustainable path forward in a toy market dominated by Mattel and Hasbro remains the central question.
FAQs
Is JAKKS Pacific still in business?
Yes. JAKKS Pacific is still in business as of 2026. The company went through a financial restructuring in 2022 and was delisted from the NASDAQ, but continues to operate as a privately held toy company producing licensed products for Disney, Nintendo, Nickelodeon, and other major entertainment brands.
Who founded JAKKS Pacific?
JAKKS Pacific was founded in 1995 by Jack Friedman and Stephen Berman in Malibu, California. The name “JAKKS” is derived from both founders’ names. Stephen Berman continues to serve as CEO of the company.
Why was JAKKS Pacific delisted from NASDAQ?
JAKKS Pacific was delisted from NASDAQ in 2022 as part of a financial restructuring process. The company faced financial challenges including debt and the loss of the Toys “R” Us retail channel. The restructuring transitioned JAKKS from a public to a privately held company.
Does JAKKS Pacific make Disney toys?
Yes. JAKKS Pacific holds licenses for several Disney properties, including Disney Princess and Frozen characters, and produces dolls, figures, and playsets based on them. Disney licensing is one of JAKKS Pacific’s most significant business relationships.
Who is JAKKS Pacific’s CEO?
Stephen Berman, co-founder of JAKKS Pacific, continues to serve as CEO of the company as of 2026. He has led the company through its public years on NASDAQ and through the 2022 restructuring and transition to private ownership.
