Rubik’s Cube celebrates 50th anniversary with global sales surpassing 500 million

In 1974, Ernő Rubik, a 30-year-old Hungarian professor, invented the Rubik’s Cube. His initial intention was not to create a puzzle game but to design a structure whose parts could move without collapsing. This led to the development of a cube composed of six stationary blocks and a 3D cross, which included 12 edge pieces and eight corner pieces. The stationary pieces define how the other parts can be manipulated.

Despite inventing the cube, Rubik could not solve it immediately. It took him a month to find the first solution, while the current world record for solving a 3×3 cube is an astonishing 3.13 seconds, held by American Max Park. Initially named the Magic Cube, the puzzle was first sold only in Hungary before gaining international popularity. By 1979, it was showcased in toy fairs in London, Paris, New York, and Nuremberg.

The cube’s popularity skyrocketed in the 1980s, selling around 100 million units from 1980 to 1983. The Rubik’s Cube won a special prize at the German Game of the Year awards in 1980. The first official speedcubing competition took place in Budapest in 1982, with American Minh Thai winning by solving it in 22.95 seconds.

In popular culture, the cube appeared in the animated series “The Simpsons” in 1991 and has since featured in various films and music videos, including Disney’s “WALL-E” and “Ready Player One.” By January 2024, over 500 million Rubik’s Cubes were sold globally.

As Rubik’s Cube celebrates its 50th anniversary, it remains a staple in stores and continues to inspire competitive speedcubing worldwide, with upcoming competitions such as the European Championships in Spain from July 25-28.