The first Barbie doll debuted at the American International Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959, retailing for $3 and selling 300,000 units within its inaugural year. This initial success established the foundation for a sprawling business empire, eventually expanding to include a vast array of accessories, careers, and related merchandise for the globally recognized toy.
Early Career and Mattel
Born in Denver, Colorado, in 1916, Ruth Handler began her professional life in Los Angeles after moving there with her husband, Elliot. Her early business experience involved managing sales for a plastics firm, which evolved into a partnership with Harold Matson to form Mattel in 1945. While the company initially focused on furniture, a decline in wartime sales prompted a shift into the toy manufacturing market.
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The inspiration for Barbie emerged from observing her daughter, Barbara, engage with paper dolls representing adult scenarios. After discovering the German Bild Lilli doll during a 1956 European trip, Handler collaborated with designer Jack Ryan to create an adult-figured doll for the American market. The product became a primary focus for Mattel, adding subsequent characters such as Ken and a comprehensive range of accessories to maintain market relevance.
Medical Innovation and Later Life
Following a 1970 breast cancer diagnosis and a radical mastectomy, Handler faced difficulties finding high-quality breast prostheses. Leveraging her experience as an inventor, she launched the Ruthton Corp. to manufacture the Nearly Me line, designed to restore self-esteem among cancer survivors. This venture gained significant attention, including among prominent public figures.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Legacy
Handler served as Mattel’s first president until 1975, when the company faced an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding financial discrepancies. She resigned, later pleading no contest to charges of fraud and false reporting. She received a $57,000 fine and was sentenced to community service. Handler died in Century City, California, in 2002, and was later featured in the 2023 film Barbie.
Fast facts
- Born: 1916, Denver, Colorado
- Died: 2002, Century City, California
- Primary Invention: Barbie
- Education: University of Denver, UCLA
- Mattel Tenure: 1945–1975
- Key Award: Los Angeles Times Women of the Year Silver Cup (1967)
- Post-Mattel Company: Ruthton Corp.
- Burial Site: Hillside Memorial Park
Questions readers ask
What inspired the creation of the Barbie doll?
Handler noted a lack of adult-figured dolls for children and sought to fill this market void after observing her daughter playing with paper dolls.
Why did Ruth Handler leave Mattel?
She resigned in 1975 following a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into the company's financial reporting practices.
Achievements
- Notable work: Barbie
- Educated at University of Denver and University of California, Los Angeles
- Worked as screenwriter, entrepreneur and inventor
