Founder Profile
Elliot Handler
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Elliot Handler?
Elliot Handler is a founder of Mattel, Inc., which was founded in 1945 with Ruth Handler and Harold Matson.
- Company founded
- Mattel, Inc.
- Founded
- 1945
- Co-founders
- Ruth Handler and Harold Matson
Background
Elliot Handler was a designer who co-founded Mattel and led its product development, including the 1968 launch of Hot Wheels.
Founding Story
Elliot Handler co-founded Mattel in 1945 with his wife Ruth and Harold Matson; the company name combines 'Matt' and 'Elliot'. A designer by training, he focused on product ideas while Ruth handled much of the business. Early hits included the Uke-A-Doodle toy ukulele, and he championed Hot Wheels die-cast cars, launched in 1968. He led Mattel alongside Ruth until the couple left the company in the mid-1970s. He died in 2011.
Elliot Handler was born in 1916 in Chicago. Education: Art Center College of Design.