<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MATTEL INC.'S BALANCE SHEETS AND INCOME STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 68,171 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,873,786 <ALLOWANCES> 26,792 <INVENTORY> 552,661 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,651,348 <PP&E> 947,696 <DEPRECIATION> 338,048 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,074,618 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,569,906 <BONDS> 616,287 <COMMON> 297,626 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 827 <OTHER-SE> 1,465,806 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,074,618 <SALES> 3,221,523 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,221,523 <CGS> 1,639,598 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,639,598 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,361,063 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 62,782 <INCOME-PRETAX> 158,080 <INCOME-TAX> 63,415 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 94,665 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 4,610 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 90,055 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.28 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.30 <FN> Notes - Fully diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 1997 has been submitted in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 601 (b)(11), although it is contrary to paragraph 40 of APB Opinion No. 15 because it produces an anti-dilutive result.