Short answers, pulled from the story.
Akira Toriyama began drawing Son Goku in 1984. He created the character to combine the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West with the martial arts films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
The Dragon Ball Z anime series ran from 1989 to 1996. Produced by Toei Animation, the show adapted the final 325 chapters of the manga and broadcast in over 80 countries.
The Dragon Ball manga has sold over 350 million copies worldwide. This figure includes sales from Japan alone, which exceeded 160 million copies, and international distribution across more than 40 countries.
Akira Toriyama chose blonde hair for the Super Saiyan transformation because it was easier for his assistant to color. The design was intended to look like Bruce Lee's paralyzing glare with piercing eyes and a slanting pose.
The creation of Dragon Ball was influenced by the martial arts films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Akira Toriyama watched these films as a child and wanted to combine them with the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.