History.com: Barbie Through the Ages

Take a look at Barbie's cultural revolution through the decades. Barbie's official birthday is March 9, 1959 -- the day she was officially introduced to the world. Handler always saw Barbie as a reflection of the times, with the first doll mimicking the glamour of 1950s stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. In its first year, 300,000 Barbie dolls were sold. The first Barbie doll sold for $3.00, but a mint condition first doll can fetch more than $25,000 today.