<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MATTEL INC.'S BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 50,215 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 914,892 <ALLOWANCES> 34,532 <INVENTORY> 567,658 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,788,906 <PP&E> 1,120,574 <DEPRECIATION> 387,039 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,977,334 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,088,756 <BONDS> 983,356 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 772 <COMMON> 300,381 <OTHER-SE> 1,455,116 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,977,334 <SALES> 692,116 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 692,116 <CGS> 375,379 <TOTAL-COSTS> 375,379 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 316,887 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,858 <INCOME-PRETAX> (25,008) <INCOME-TAX> (7,152) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (17,856) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (17,856) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.07)<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> (0.07)<F1> <FN> <F1>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." </FN>