On March 9th, 1959, Mattel introduced the Barbie doll! Created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, the Barbie was based on the German Bild Lilli doll which Handler had purchased while in Europe. Over six decades, Mattel has sold over a billion Barbie dolls, making it the company's largest and most profitable line. Barbie and her male counterpart, Ken, have been described as the two most popular dolls in the world. Since 1984, the brand has been expanded into a multimedia franchise, including video games, animated films, television/web series, and a live action film in 2023.
