Happy 25th, Aflac Duck! How a Quirky Mascot Changed Insurance Forever

Move over, Daffy and Donald — there’s another duck in town celebrating a major milestone. The Aflac Duck, the feathery face of American insurance, is officially 25 years old. What started as a gamble by two advertising executives on a park bench has become one of the most recognizable mascots in American business.

Back in the day, the idea sounded wild: a talking duck, squawking “Aflac!” — voiced first by the unforgettable Gilbert Gottfried — would break through the noise of insurance advertising. Even CEO Dan Amos admits he took a risk. “When it ran and I saw it, I realized I had bet my entire career on a damn duck! But today, millions of people throughout the U.S. know the Aflac Duck,” Amos told Fox News.

The real genius? Pairing humor with a real consumer frustration. Amos credits that signature “Aflac! Aflac! Aflac!” for not just making people laugh, but also making them feel heard — a rare feat in the insurance world. Suddenly, a business not exactly known for its sense of humor was getting all the attention.

And attention paid off. Within three years, Aflac’s sales doubled and name recognition skyrocketed from 10 percent to a whopping 90 percent. But the story gets even better: The duck didn’t just boost profits, it helped raise over $200 million for the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center in Atlanta.

Beyond TV fame, Aflac has also created a robotic duck that comforts kids undergoing cancer and sickle cell treatment. Nearly 40,000 of these have been gifted to children across the country, all part of a company-wide commitment to philanthropy. As Amos puts it, “When the child’s calm, the parents are calm. And so, it works hand in hand in ultimately making things better.”

Turns out, the duck that quacked its way into our hearts has managed to make a real difference off-screen, too. Who would’ve guessed that a quack could echo this far?