Childhood in Tehran and early bullying

Isaac recounts growing up Jewish in Narmak, facing antisemitism, bullying, and learning to defend himself.

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Isaac Larian is the founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment, the company behind Bratz, L.O.L. Surprise!, Little Tikes, and dozens of other iconic toy brands. But long before he built one of the largest private toy companies in the world, Isaac was a Jewish kid growing up in Tehran, where he faced antisemitism, bullying, and poverty.

After arriving in America alone at 17 with just $753 in his pocket, Isaac worked the graveyard shift washing dishes while putting himself through college. He later built a successful electronics distribution business, became one of Nintendo's largest distributors, and eventually shifted into toys, where he created some of the most successful doll brands of the last two decades.

In 2026, Isaac was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in recognition of his transformative impact on the industry and his role in creating global brands including Bratz and L.O.L. Surprise!.

In this episode of Big Shot, Harley Finkelstein and David Segal sit down with Isaac to discuss the experiences that shaped his relentless drive, the lessons he learned from failure, and the persistence that helped him build MGA Entertainment. They talk about his years in electronics, how he broke into Nintendo, why getting cut off led him into licensing, the creation of Bratz, the battle with Mattel, and why he believes fortune favors the bold.

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In This Episode We Cover:

(00:00) Intro

(02:43) How Isaac's childhood experiences with antisemitism and poverty in Iran shaped him

(14:27) Arriving in America at 17 with $753 and getting his first job

(19:40) Why the survival instinct never leaves him

(24:44) Why he studied civil engineering

(27:05) How he got into mail order and shifted to electronics

(36:58) How he learned to be a good storyteller

(39:50) Becoming a distributor for Nintendo

(49:53) Why he got cut out of Nintendo and shifted into licensing

(53:45) Getting into the doll business