Rise to Fame
She was nine months old when Full House first filmed. She and Ashley split the Michelle Tanner role not for cuteness but because child labor laws capped infant hours on set. By the time the show wrapped in 1995, the Dualstar empire was already spinning out merchandise, direct-to-video films, and fragrances, making the pair reportedly among the youngest self-made millionaires in the country. The obvious next step was more entertainment. Instead, they enrolled at NYU in 2004, found classmates were selling stories to tabloids, and quietly pivoted to fashion. The Row launched in 2006, and they didn't give an interview about it for three years.
In the Spotlight
The Row hit a $1 billion valuation in September 2024 when the Chanel-owning Wertheimer family and the L'Oreal heiress took minority stakes, with the Olsens retaining majority control. Seven CFDA wins since 2012, almost zero press appearances to collect them. The 2020 divorce from Olivier Sarkozy put her briefly back in the tabloids; he reportedly terminated the lease on their shared NYC apartment without her knowledge, mid-pandemic, and she had to file an emergency court order. The brand absorbed none of it.
Side Notes
Fraternal, not identical. Mary-Kate and Ashley developed from two separate eggs, which is why they look similar but not exactly alike. The more interesting sibling story is Elizabeth Olsen, their younger sister, who watched what child stardom did to them and deliberately took the slow road to Hollywood, studying at NYU before booking anything major. When Netflix revived Full House in 2016, every original cast member came back except the twins. Neither gave an explanation. The equestrian circuit is where Mary-Kate reportedly spends her actual downtime, about as far from a premiere or a photo call as she can get.