Manny Stul’s story isn’t just another rags-to-riches tale—it’s a global business case study in resilience, innovation, and exponential growth. From surviving a refugee camp to leading one of the world’s most successful toy companies, Stul’s journey is as remarkable as the numbers behind his success.
Net Worth in 2025: A Billionaire by Innovation
As of 2025, Manny Stul has an estimated net worth of $1.37 billion (approximately £1.07 billion), according to the latest figures from Forbes. Much of his wealth comes from Moose Toys, the Australian toy manufacturer he acquired in 2000 and transformed into a global powerhouse.
Now 76 years old, Stul’s fortune is closely tied to Moose’s consistent year-on-year growth, its popular toy lines, and its expansion into international markets. His earnings are a reflection of not just sales but a legacy of turning imaginative concepts into globally recognized consumer products.
A Humble Start in Post-War Turmoil
Born in 1949 to Polish-Jewish parents who had fled Communist persecution, Manny Stul spent the first months of his life in a refugee camp in Germany. His family was later resettled in Australia when he was just seven months old—a move that would shape the rest of his future.
Growing up in modest circumstances, Stul didn’t follow a traditional path to success. He dropped out of university in the early 1970s and took up construction jobs to save money for his first business venture. That hustle led to the creation of Skansen, a giftware company that would later list publicly in 1993 with a market cap of over A$15 million (£9 million).
Moose Toys: A Billion-Dollar Turnaround
When Stul became CEO of Moose Toys in 2000, the company was floundering. But under his leadership, the company saw a phenomenal 7,200% increase in revenue between 2000 and 2015. Revenue leaped from a modest $10 million to an eye-popping $720 million within just 15 years.
This explosive growth was largely driven by the launch of Shopkins, a series of collectible toys inspired by grocery store items. With characters like “Milk Bud” and “Kris P. Lettuce,” Shopkins captured the imagination of kids worldwide. In 2015, the line outperformed Mattel’s Barbie to win the “Girl Toy of the Year” award from the Toy Industry Association in the U.S.
Today, Moose Toys exports to over 80 countries and supplies major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Toys R Us. The brand has also expanded beyond toys into digital games, animated series, and printed books, solidifying its presence across multiple platforms and age demographics.
Family and Personal Life
Despite his immense success, Stul remains a private individual. He currently resides in Australia and maintains a close-knit family circle. His children, including Paul Solomon, have joined him in business leadership. Solomon now serves as co-CEO of Moose Toys, helping to continue the company’s tradition of innovation and growth.
Stul is also known for his philanthropic efforts, often contributing to causes related to refugee aid and children’s welfare, drawing from his own experiences as a displaced child.
Navigating Crisis: The Bindeez Setback
One of the darkest chapters in Moose Toys’ history occurred in 2007 when its popular Bindeez craft toys were found to be contaminated with a dangerous chemical. The incident, traced back to a manufacturing facility in Shenzhen, China, led to a global product recall that threatened the company’s very existence.
At the time, the world was also spiraling into the Global Financial Crisis, compounding the company’s woes. Many analysts believed Moose Toys would not survive. But Stul, ever the creative thinker, saw it differently. Instead of retreating, he reinvented the company’s operations and quality control systems, ensuring such lapses would never happen again.
This resilience became a hallmark of Moose’s corporate culture. In 2016, Stul’s tenacity and innovation were formally recognized when he was named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year, selected from among 55 top entrepreneurs representing 49 countries.
A Creative Hub, Not Just a Toy Company
Manny Stul has long maintained that Moose Toys is more than just a toy company. “We are a creative hub, not a toy company. Innovation is in our DNA,” he stated during his EY award acceptance speech. This mindset has helped Moose stay ahead in a highly competitive global market, particularly as it continues to evolve with tech-integrated toys and interactive entertainment.
Under Stul’s leadership, Moose has positioned itself as a trailblazer in imaginative play, continuously launching new products that reflect market trends and digital integration, such as the Magic Mixies cauldron series and Little Live Pets.
The Legacy Continues
In 2025, Manny Stul may no longer be the daily face of Moose Toys’ operations, but his impact continues through the leadership of his family and executive team. Moose remains one of the top global toy brands, and Stul’s approach to creativity, crisis management, and global expansion stands as a blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs.
From his early days as a refugee to becoming one of Australia’s wealthiest self-made billionaires, Manny Stul’s life is a testament to how vision, resilience, and innovation can truly reshape industries—and lives.
