Barbie Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration. Barbie is the figurehead of a brand of Mattel dolls and accessories, including other family members and collectible dolls. Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for over fifty years, and has been the subject of numerous controversies and lawsuits, often involving parodies of the doll and her lifestyle. Mattel has sold over a
Brent Handler Brad Handler, Martin Pucher and Brian Corbett, Brent Handler re-entered the destination club marketplace with the launch of the Denver-based destination club Inspirato. Brent Handler currently serves as the company’s CEO. In a departure from the traditional destination club model, Inspirato rents rather than owns its homes, reducing the club’s upfront costs and allowing for lower membership fees. Handler’s innovative business model and past success in the destination club space led to significant interest from the venture capital community. The company raised $65 million from some of the world’s top venture capital firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and