The Dream House That Barbie Built Goes up For Sale

Posted on 24. Feb, 2011 by LuxSpaces in Luxury Homes

Jill Barad, credited with reviving Mattel's line of Barbie dolls, is selling the Bel Air mansion she shares with her husband.

Barbie made her debut in 1959, but Jill E. Barad, the former CEO of Mattel Inc., won’t be toying around for Barbie’s 52nd birthday, as she and husband Thomas K. Barad have listed their Bel Air-area mansion, according to the L.A. Business Journal.

This 9,393 square foot Mediterranean home on 1.11 acres was built in 1991 and has 16 open parking spaces, a three car garage, a lawn, nine foot-plus high ceilings, hardwood floors and a swimming pool. There is marble flooring, two staircases, a bar, breakfast area, wood paneled library, theater/game room and powder room.

Harold Matson and Elliot Handler founded the company in 1945, but Handler’s late wife Ruth Handler, who later helmed Mattel, is credited with establishing the Barbie product line in 1959.

Jill Barad, who joined Mattel in 1981, is credited with re-establishing the Barbie doll as an American icon by changing Barbie’s image from a sex symbol to a professional woman– which reportedly increased Barbie’s worth from $200 million to $1.9 billion.

Mattel Inc. is the world’s largest toy company based on revenue, with product lines such as Barbie, Hot Wheels, Matchbox cars, Masters of the Universe, and American Girl.

See more Bel-Air homes at REALTOR.com

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Tags: Bel Air