In 1971, Merle Robbins, a barber from Ohio, invented UNO. As demand grew, he sold the rights to a friend, Robert Tezak, for $50,000 plus royalties. Tezak took UNO to new heights by founding International Games, Inc. UNO's sales skyrocketed, eventually leading to its acquisition by Mattel in 1992. Today, UNO generates significant revenue for Mattel's billion-dollar card game segment.