The iconic doll Barbie was created in 1959 by Ruth Handler, who named the figure after her own daughter, Barbara. Barbie offered girls something entirely new at the time: a grown-up figure that encouraged them to imagine and project their future selves into various careers and roles.
Meanwhile, Ruth's husband, Elliot Handler, was simultaneously working on another revolutionary toy line. He invented the globally recognized Hot Wheels brand of die-cast cars and launched it in May 1968, fundamentally changing how children and collectors around the world played with miniature vehicles.
Together, the Handler couple profoundly shaped childhoods across the globe in two very different ways. Barbie opened up ambitious, imaginative role-play for girls, while Hot Wheels delivered speed, style, and high collectibility that appealed widely to children of all genders.
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