Becky's Porcelain Doll

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Ruth Handler co-founded Mattel with her husband Elliot. Watching her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls, she noticed the child enjoyed assigning them adult roles, unlike standard infant representations of the time. In 1956, while traveling in Switzerland with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Handler encountered the Bild Lilli doll, an adult-figured toy based on a satirical comic strip by Reinhard Beuthien for the newspaper Bild. Sold since 1955 in West Germany, it shifted from adult sales to popularity among children dressing it up. Handler purchased three Lilli dolls, giving one to Barbara and bringing one back to Mattel. She redesigned the doll with inventor-designer Jack Ryan, naming her Barbie after her daughter (born May 21, 1941). The debut occurred at the American International Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959. The original wore a black-and-white zebra striped swimsuit and topknot ponytail, available as blonde or brunette, marketed as a "Teen-age Fashion Model." Designer Charlotte Johnson created her clothes. Despite analysts expecting failure due to the adult appearance and parental concerns about her chest, Barbie sold 350,000 units in her first year. Sales exceeded production capacity for three years, leading to manufacturing in Japan with hand-stitched clothes by homeworkers. A lawsuit from Louis Marx & Company regarding Bild-Lilli patents settled out of court in 1963; Mattel bought the rights for $21,600 in 1964.

In Their Own Story

The doll's appearance evolved significantly over time, most notably in 1971 when her eyes were adjusted to look forward instead of sideways. This was the final adjustment Ruth Handler made before she and Elliot were removed from Mattel in 1974 following an investigation into false financial reports. Barbie became a pioneer for television advertising strategies copied by other toys. By 2006, over a billion dolls had been sold globally across 150 countries, with three sold every second. Sales declined sharply between 2014 and 2016 but rebounded with the 2023 film, triggering "Barbiecore" and "Barbenheimer." Media appearances began in 1984 with video games and 1987 specials like Barbie and the Rockers. She starred in direct-to-video films starting with Barbie in the Nutcracker (2001), selling over 110 million units by February 26, 2013. Since 2017, these became streaming specials on Netflix. She appeared as a supporting character in Toy Story and the My Scene franchise. In 2015, she launched as a vlogger on YouTube discussing mental health and racism.

Reader's Guide

In her fictional biography from Random House novels, Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, with parents George and Margaret from Willows, Wisconsin. She attended Willows High School, later Manhattan International High School in the 1999 Generation Girl books. Her on-off relationship with Ken (Kenneth Sean Carson), introduced in 1961, saw a split in February 2004, a tentative reconciliation in 2006, and an official reunion on Valentine's Day 2011. Beginning in 2018's Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures, they were friends or neighbors until the 2023 show Barbie: A Touch of Magic. Companions include sisters Skipper, Stacie, and Chelsea (formerly Kelly), plus retired members Todd, Krissy, and Francie. Friends include Teresa, Midge, Christie, Steven, and Australian surfer Blaine during her 2004 split with Ken. She has owned over 40 pets including cats, dogs, a panda, lion cub, and zebra. Her vehicles range from pink Beetle convertibles to Jeeps and trailers. Holding a pilot's license, she operates airliners and serves as a flight attendant. Titles include Miss Astronaut Barbie (1965), Doctor Barbie (1988), and Nascar Barbie (1998).

Did You Know?

• The first Barbie doll retailed for three dollars, with her initial wardrobe of twenty-two ensembles priced between one and five US dollars.
• In 1964, Mattel purchased the copyright and patent rights for the Bild-Lilli doll for $21,600 (equivalent to $218,000 in 2025).
• Barbie's eyes were adjusted in 1971 to look forward rather than sideways; this was the last change Ruth Handler made before leaving Mattel.
• As of 2006, it was estimated that three Barbie dolls are sold every second worldwide.
• The live-action film featuring Margot Robbie as Barbie was released on July 21, 2023.