Labubu turned a Chinese company into a multi-billion dollar empire. It's a global phenomenon.
Chinese company Pop Mart announced that its profits will increase by a staggering 350% in the first half of 2025 – all thanks to the viral phenomenon Labubu. The adorable, predatory creature has taken over the global toy market and become a pop culture icon.
Chinese toy company Pop Mart , responsible for the global success of Labubu dolls, announced that its profits for the first half of 2025 will increase by as much as 350% , according to the British BBC. The company's revenue has tripled , and global expansion and cost control have further boosted its financial results. The brand is currently experiencing one of the fastest growth rates in the retail industry , with a market value exceeding $40 billion .
Labubu - a figurine that has gone from being a toy to an object of collectors' desire / ShutterstockLabubu was born in the sketchbook of Taiwanese artist Kasing Lung , who created the character as part of his series The Monsters . The charmingly quirky creature, with its horror-movie teeth, perfectly fit the "kawaii with a claw" aesthetic. Pop Mart quickly recognized the character's potential and partnered with Lung , introducing Labubu to the market in 2019—in the form of blind boxes, of course.
Pop Mart promotional bag / ShutterstockLabubu has become a global pop culture icon. International sales accounted for 40% of the company's revenue in 2024 , with the largest boom recorded in the United States, where sales increased by a staggering 5,000%. This was helped by celebrities and Instagrammers, including Kim Kardashian and Lisa from Blackpink , who featured Labubu on their profiles. Even Maryla Rodowicz has her own Labubu. Today, Pop Mart has 40 stores in the US and as many as 400 in China – and that's just the beginning.
From $10 to $150,000 – Collectors Want LabubuLabubu has also become a coveted collectible . Figurines that initially cost around $10 now fetch prices in the hundreds. In June 2025, a human version of Labubu even sold at an auction in Beijing for a staggering $150,000 . However, this popularity has its drawbacks – Chinese authorities have seized over 46,000 fakes, known as "Lafufu," in recent weeks.
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