<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.