Originally, Professor Rubik designed the small puzzle as a way of teaching his students about three dimensional objects, but after securing a patent for it in 1975, he began marketing it throughout Hungary, Europe and the United States.When toy manufacturer Ideal Toys contracted with him to produce it in the United States, the cubes sales and popularity skyrocketed. In 1980, the cube sold more than 4.5 million units and sold even more the next year. Over a seven year period, more than 30 million units were sold with pirated versions and several sequels also popping up. As well, as a companion to the puzzle, several books were written to provide hints and solutions to the puzzle - many of which went on to become the biggest sellers ever for their publishing houses.

At it's peak, the cubes popularity reached incredible and sometimes unhappy proportions. Legends abound that fans became so compulsive that one developed tendinitus in her wrist from struggling with the puzzle and another was divorced by his wife for becoming so infatuated with the device - which she had bought him for Christmas. Finally, around 1982, the cubes popularity finally began to decrease, much because of massive overexposure. Self help books popped up to enable people to kick the cube habit (with titles like How to Live with a Cubaholic and 101 Uses for a Dead Cube.)