Beanie Babies! Those little, bean-filled plush toys that took the world by storm in the late 90s. But beyond the cuddly exterior and collector frenzy, lies the intriguing story of their creator, Ty Warner. Get ready to dive into the eccentric world of the man behind the Beanie Babies with these insane facts.
Making the “Perfect Cat”
After dropping out of college, Ty Warner spent three years soaking up the Italian lifestyle. He claims this time was more enjoyable than the typical American life. It was in Italy that he discovered a plush cat toy, inspiring him to create something unique: the “perfect cat.”
These early cats were life-sized with PVC pellets, making them posable. A smaller version debuted at the 1993 World Toy Fair in New York, launching the Beanie Baby phenomenon. [1]
College Dropout
While not exactly insane, Warner’s path to success didn’t involve a college degree. After military school, he worked summer jobs to afford college. In 1962, he enrolled at Kalamazoo College, but left after one year due to tuition costs.
This setback led him to a sales job at Dakin Toy Company. This is where he got his start in the toy world. [2]
Intentional Scarcity Marketing Plan
Why did Beanie Babies become such a sensation? Thank Ty Warner’s marketing genius. He limited sales to small stores and restricted the production of each Beanie Baby.
This meant that if you wanted a specific Beanie Baby, you had to buy it while it was available. Warner personally inspected each Beanie Baby to guarantee perfection. [3]
A Weird Familial Dating Pattern
Warner is an extremely private person, but a few details of his childhood are known. His father, Hal, was a toy salesman who gave Ty a job at Dakin. This sparked Ty’s interest in the industry.
According to Zac Bissonnette’s book, The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute, Warner was angry at his father after his parents’ divorce. He retaliated by dating several of his father’s girlfriends. [4]
Holding Hotels “Hostage”
Warner ventured into hotel ownership in 2000, purchasing Four Seasons Hotels in New York and Santa Barbara. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the hotel shut down. Staff were laid off, benefits were withheld, and the reopening date was delayed.
As of now, there is still no reopening date. Some ex-employees believe Warner is purposefully stalling to avoid paying millions in wages. In August 2022, some employees sued Warner in federal court. [5]
A Historic Childhood Home
Warner grew up in the Chicago area, home to many houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright’s prairie-style homes are architecturally significant and expensive.
Warner’s childhood home in La Grange was a Wright design. During his tax evasion trial, his lawyers tried to paint a picture of an impoverished upbringing. Anyone familiar with Wright’s homes knows that even though Warner may have had a rough childhood, he likely didn’t lack material comforts. [6]
To Retire or Not to Retire!
At the height of the Beanie Baby craze, Warner decided to end it! In 1999, he announced that all Beanie Babies would retire in 2000. This announcement drove up the price of the remaining Beanie Babies.
The company then released a poll asking the public if they wanted Beanie Babies to continue. It cost 50 cents to vote. Unsurprisingly, the majority voted to keep them. Many felt tricked into paying Warner’s company for a fake retirement scheme, but all earnings were donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. He “unretired” Beanie Babies in 2000. [7]
Those Iconic Poems
Lina Trivedi, the company’s twelfth employee, suggested giving each Beanie Baby a unique name and poem. Warner loved the idea and asked her to write more. Lina was only 19 and wrote the poems for the first 136 Beanie Babies.
She also created the first business-to-consumer website. The Beanie Bubble, released in 2023, highlights the women who were responsible for the company’s success. Warner disputes this. In response, Lina declared, “The [poems] after I left sucked.” [8]
Beanie Inspired by an Ex
Ty Warner’s dating history is quite interesting. He has never been married and has no children, but he has been public about his romantic relationships. Two of his long-term girlfriends worked for him.
Patricia Roche was Warner’s girlfriend when he started the company. She ran the UK division. Warner named “Patti the Platypus” after her. Patricia eventually ended the relationship because of Warner’s eccentric ways. [9]
Knowing that she is now his ex adds a bit of sting to the poem: “Ran into Patti one day while walking / Believe me she wouldn’t stop talking / Listened and listened to her speak / That would explain her extra long beak!”
From Beanie Craze to Tax Evasion
In 2013, Warner was charged with evading $5.6 million in federal taxes by underreporting his income and hiding money in a Swiss bank.
He could have faced five years in prison, but he received 500 hours of community service and a $100,000 fine. This may be because of his support for charities like the Red Cross. Warner broke down in tears while pleading guilty, expressing “shame and embarrassment.” [10]
From creating the perfect cat to tax evasion, Ty Warner’s story is definitely a wild ride. These ten facts only scratch the surface of the eccentric life of the Beanie Baby mogul. He is a man who knew how to create a craze, but also knew how to stir up controversy.
What do you think about these facts? Do you have any Beanie Babies stashed away? Leave a comment below!
