What were you doing when you were seven? Probably not closing million-dollar deals.
But for one Seattle teen, a simple idea that started as a game at his kitchen table has now turned him into a teenage millionaire.
At just 15, Alex Butler has officially sold the rights to his card game Taco vs. Burrito—a game he dreamed up when he was only seven years old—to major toy company PlayMonster.
And while most teens might be clinging to their childhood creations, Alex? He’s ready to move on—with a Lambo in mind.
The Sale That Changed Everything
Last month, Alex and his parents—Leslie Pierson and Mark Butler—finalized a deal with Wisconsin-based PlayMonster, the company behind family hits like Farkle and 5 Second Rule.
The exact amount of the buyout hasn’t been disclosed, but one thing is clear: Alex is now a millionaire.
Despite the big payday, Alex says he wasn’t particularly attached to the game anymore.
“It’s not super important to me,” he told the Seattle Times. “I just kind of wanted to get the most money out of it.”
That said, he and his parents are now shifting their focus to investing the money wisely…with the exception of maybe splurging on that Lamborghini.
How a Simple Idea Took Off
Believe it or not, Taco vs. Burrito came about totally by chance.
Alex didn’t even like tacos or burritos when he came up with the idea.
But he did love playing card games with his family—especially quirky ones like Exploding Kittens.
Inspired by that, he decided to create his own game.
At first, his mom—who proudly calls herself a “serial entrepreneur” and even pitched her own invention GoodHangUps on Shark Tank—figured it was just another one of Alex’s passing interests.
But he was serious. So serious, in fact, that he would drag his parents to a local coffee shop to test his prototype.
Coffee Shops, Card Decks, and Kickstarter
After fine-tuning the game with input from friends and family, Alex’s mom helped him launch a crowdfunding campaign to cover production costs.
On day one, she asked him to guess how much money they’d raised. He thought maybe $200.
It was over $1,000.
“He lost it—mind blown,” Leslie said. By the end of the fundraiser, and after some exposure at Seattle’s Comic Con, the family had raised $25,000 to get the game made.
Building a Business from the Ground Up
With that momentum, the family decided to take things further.
They launched their own company—Hot Taco Inc.—with Alex as the majority owner.
They partnered with a manufacturer who, Leslie noted, “treated Alex like an adult,” and soon had $25,000 to $30,000 worth of product listed on Amazon.
The gamble paid off. Within a year, Taco vs. Burrito had racked up nearly $1.1 million in sales.
A Bestseller with Expansion Packs
Since then, the game has continued to explode in popularity.
Over 1.5 million copies have been sold, and Taco vs. Burrito even snagged the top spot as Amazon’s #1 bestselling game.
It’s since expanded to include two follow-up packs to keep the fun going.
But with demand growing faster than the family could keep up, they knew it was time to pass the torch.
Why They Chose PlayMonster
Over the years, the Butlers received several offers from companies wanting to buy the game.
But it wasn’t until PlayMonster came along that they felt confident enough to say yes.
Leslie liked the company’s vision, and Alex agreed. They both opted for a full buyout.
PlayMonster’s CEO, Jonathan Berkowitz, said he was immediately drawn to the quirky characters and competitive nature of the game.
“It’s always fun when kids can beat their parents in a game,” he said, adding that he was stunned to learn it was invented by a seven-year-old.
What’s Next for the Game (and Alex)?
PlayMonster isn’t wasting any time. They’re already planning to roll out new expansions and versions of the game, including a special collectors’ edition launching in November.
As for Alex? He’s stepping away from the toy industry entirely—ready to explore new interests and investments, and maybe, just maybe, get behind the wheel of his dream sports car.
So, What’s Next?
With one major success already behind him before he’s even finished high school, the possibilities are endless for Alex Butler.
Whether he ends up launching another hit product or just enjoying his well-earned fortune, one thing’s for sure—this teen’s already living every kid’s dream.
And yes… he might just be doing it in a Lamborghini.