<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, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
         REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         142,589
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,814,403
<ALLOWANCES>                                    32,707
<INVENTORY>                                    764,048
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,972,257
<PP&E>                                       1,103,228
<DEPRECIATION>                                 388,931
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,157,865
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        2,134,015
<BONDS>                                        963,654
<COMMON>                                       300,381
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        772
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,619,815
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,157,865
<SALES>                                      3,238,810
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,238,810
<CGS>                                        1,657,907
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,657,907
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,129,369
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              69,675
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                381,859
<INCOME-TAX>                                   109,141
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            272,718
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   272,718
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.91
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.89

<FN>
Notes -

Amounts disclosed as EPS-Primary and EPS-Diluted represent Basic and
Diluted Earnings Per Share as required by Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 128 "Earnings per Share."

Mattel, Inc. has reviewed its quarterly Financial Data Schedule filed
during 1997 and has determined that no restatement is necessary since
amounts reported as Primary and Fully Diluted Earnings Per Share are
the same as those that would have been reported as Basic and Diluted
Earnings Per Share under FAS No. 128 for the same reporting periods.