Since then, Barbie has played a key part in millions of young girls lives. Millions of people have come to collect this doll in her many styles and themes, all totaling more than 600 dolls. .
After becoming publicly owned company in 1960, Mattel had its common stock listed on the New York and Pacific Stock Exchanges in 1963. By 1965, sales topped $100,000,000 and Mattel joins the Fortune 500.
Mattel introduces the Ken doll, which becomes Barbie's one and only boyfriend. Named after the Handler's son, Ken has brown plastic hair, unlike Barbies and he also has a wide variety of clothes. In 1965, Mattel enters the educational preschool market with "See N' Say-, a talking toy.
In 1968, the number one name in toy vehicles comes out, it's name, "Hot Wheels-. The first Hot Wheels vehicle is a hot-rod with a candy-colored paint job. More than 41 million kids have grown up with the brand over the years, some still collect them as adults. The largest private Hot Wheels collection to date is valued at more than $1 million. Also in the year 1968, Mattel purchased the first of several companies, which come to be known as "World of the Young-, a strategy, which was used in gaining. Monogram Models was the first to join, followed by Metaframe, a pet products company a decade later; Turco, a manufacturer of playground equipment; Ringling Brother and Barnum and Bailey Circus; Circus World, a theme park; and Radnitz/Mattel Productions, a motion picture production company. Also in the year 1968, Christie, the first many ethnic friends of Barbie was created. Another two of Barbie's Latina and Asian friends were created, Theresa (1988), and Kira (1990).
In 1972, Mattel restructures to create Mattel, Inc., with one division and seven subsidiaries. In 1975, Elliot and Ruth Handler, the founders of the Mattel leave the company. .
In the late 1970's Mattel starts to head in the electronic direction to keep up with the fast pace of the changing world.
