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Isaac Larian (, born March 28, 1954) is an Iranian-born American billionaire businessman, founder and the chief executive officer (CEO) of MGA Entertainment, the world's largest private company toy company. MGAE.COM: "MGA ENTERTAINMENT’S ISAAC LARIAN NAMED ERNST & YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2007 NATIONAL WINNER November 11, 2007 | Retrieved October 1, 2015.
In search of opportunity, Larian arrived to the United States alone in 1971 at the age of 17, without a place to stay, unable to speak English, and with $750 to his name. He found work as a dishwasher making $1.65 an hour, then was promoted to bus-boy and then waiter.
After a year of work, Larian enrolled at Los Angeles Southwest College, then transferred to California State University, Los Angeles, where he graduated in 1978 with a degree in civil engineering.
In 1987, Larian and his brother became a distributor for Nintendo and in 1993, they became a licensee for the "Power Rangers." The company changed its name to MGA Entertainment. By 1997, toys became their focus; they had their first internal success with the Singing Bouncy Baby.
In 2004, Mattel sued MGA alleging that the designer of the Bratz doll had developed the concept while working for Mattel and that MGA had paid Mattel employees to work on MGA projects. MGA countersued, alleging that Mattel spied on its salesmen by masquerading as toy buyers, re-positioned Bratz displays in retail stores to less favorable arrangements, and that Mattel paid retailers to favor Barbie over Bratz.
In November 2006, MGA purchased the manufacturer of toddler and preschool toys, Little Tikes. In 2010, MGA released the successful "Lalaloopsy" doll.
In August 2011 Mattel was ordered to pay MGA $310 million for attorney fees, stealing trade secrets, and false claims. Due to a technical procedural issue unrelated to the claims, the Ninth Circuit vacated without prejudice the $170 million portion of the judgment against Mattel for this misconduct. In January 2014, MGA filed a complaint for these claims in state court in California seeking in excess of $1 billion. Bratz Doll Maker MGA Entertainment Sues Mattel January 13, 2014 Barbie Plays Dirty, Bratz's Dirty Tricks Suit Claims January 16, 2014
Larian was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the consumer products category in 2004. He was also named the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007.
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