They say that good artists borrow, and great artists steal. But that's only true if you define "greatness" as immense financial success and worldwide recognition. Oh, you do? In that case, a career as an idea hyena might be just the thing for you. Hey, it's worked before ...

5 Barbie Was A German Porn Star

Kais Tolmats/iStock

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Barbie dolls have always tried to project an image of wholesomeness and innocence, even if they usually fail and instead project an image of "cocaine-eyed plastic surgery addict."

The Original Character:

Barbie is a rip-off of a German doll named Lilli ... who was originally the star of a sexy comic strip.

Bild-Zeitung

"You can brush my hair, Undress me everywhere ..."

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Debuting in 1952, "Bild Lilli" wasn't exactly pornographic -- more about sex jokes and innuendo -- but it was still a big hit with adults. So big, in fact, that the editor created a Lilli doll and marketed it to male readers ...

U.S. Air Force

Haha, you guys play with dolls!

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In 1956, Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie, visited Switzerland. Her daughter came across a Lilli doll and fell in love with it, not understanding the creepy sexual undertones. Handler pitched the idea for Barbie to Mattel, who bought the rights to Lilli in 1964. The company then rebranded her, turning Lilli into an all-American, family-friendly Barbie, even though she started out as a shameless German pervert. Sort of the opposite of David Hasselhoff's career track.