The Bold Jewish Woman Who Created Barbie Tablet Magazine Who created the Barbie doll? The dramatic rise and fall of Ruth Handler, the woman who co founded Mattel ABC News Meet Ruth Handler, the Jewish Mother who founded the iconic company Mattel in a garage 81 years ago today and changed how generations of girls imagined their futures. Humping + Grinding Venus Envy How Barbie became the world's most popular doll: it had poor sales at the start and was criticised by feminists in the 1970s now, it's made billions and Margot Robbie will