People have been obsessed with Madonna since the eighties, but these days, the spotlight is shifting. It's shifted to her kids. Specifically, her eldest. You're probably here because you're wondering how old is Madonna's daughter, and the answer depends on which one you mean, though most people are talking about the iconic Lourdes "Lola" Leon.
She isn't a kid anymore. Not even close.
Lourdes Leon was born on October 14, 1996. Do the math, and you'll find she’s currently 29 years old. It feels like yesterday she was appearing in the "Music" video or launching Material Girl with her mom, but she’s firmly established in her own right now. She's a model, a dancer, and a musician who goes by the name Lolahol. She has her mother's eyes and, frankly, that same "don't mess with me" attitude that made Madonna a household name.
But Madonna’s family tree is a bit more complex than just one daughter.
The age of Madonna's daughter Lourdes and her sisters
If you were looking for Mercy James or Estere and Stella, the numbers change. Madonna has four daughters in total. Lourdes is the eldest at 29. Then there is Chifundo "Mercy" James, who Madonna adopted from Malawi. Mercy was born in January 2006, making her 20 years old. She’s often seen showing off her incredible piano skills on Madonna’s Instagram, proving the musical gene—or at least the work ethic—runs deep in that house.
Then you have the twins. Stella and Estere Mwale were adopted in 2017, but they were born in August 2012. They are 13. Watching them grow up in the public eye has been a trip, especially seeing them join their mother on stage during the Celebration Tour.
So, when asking how old is Madonna's daughter, you're looking at a range from 13 to 29. It's a massive gap. It represents different eras of Madonna's life, from her "English Lady of the Manor" phase to her later years as a global philanthropist and single mother of six.
Lourdes, however, remains the blueprint. She was the first. The "Miracle Child." Born to Madonna and fitness trainer Carlos Leon, her arrival was a massive tabloid event in the mid-nineties. People forget how scandalous it was back then—Madonna having a baby out of wedlock was a huge talking point for the pearl-clutching crowd.
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Why the public is still fascinated by Lourdes Leon
Lola has spent her entire life trying to balance being a "nepo baby" with being a serious artist. It's a tough tightrope. She’s famously told Vogue that she paid for her own college tuition and lives in Bushwick to stay grounded, though "grounded" is relative when your mom is the Queen of Pop.
She graduated from the University of Michigan. That’s her mom’s alma mater, though Madonna famously dropped out to find fame in New York with nothing but 35 bucks in her pocket. Lourdes stayed the course. She studied dance, and it shows. If you’ve seen her movement work for brands like Mugler or Burberry, you know she isn't just standing there looking pretty. She has technical skill.
Honestly, the fascination with her age usually stems from people trying to track Madonna's own timeline. We use her kids as markers for our own lives. If Lourdes is nearly 30, it means we’re all getting older, too.
Growing up Ciccone: The reality of being Madonna's child
It wasn't all glitter and "Vogue" choreography. Madonna has been very open about being a strict parent. No TV, no junk food, and a lot of discipline. Lourdes has hinted in interviews that her mother is a "control freak" who controlled her life her whole childhood.
"My mom is such a control freak, and she has controlled me my whole life," Leon told Interview magazine. "I needed to be completely independent from her as soon as I graduated high school."
That independence is why she’s 29 and not just a professional "daughter." She’s released her own EP, Go, which is a moody, trip-hop inspired project that sounds nothing like "Like a Virgin." It’s experimental. It’s weird. It’s very New York.
Then there’s Mercy James. At 20, she’s at that age where she’s figuring out if she wants the limelight or a quiet life. She seems to lean toward the arts, specifically classical music. Madonna even named a pediatric surgery hospital in Malawi after her: The Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care. That’s a heavy legacy to carry at just 20.
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The twins, Estere and Stella, are the ones currently keeping Madonna young. At 13, they are deep into the TikTok era. During the Celebration Tour, Estere notably stole the show by ballroom dancing—specifically "vogueing"—to her mother's hit. She looked like a pro. At 11 or 12 years old (at the time), she was performing in front of 20,000 people a night. Most kids that age are worried about middle school math.
Breaking down the full sibling list
To keep it simple, here is how the whole crew shakes out in 2026:
Lourdes Leon is the oldest at 29. Her father is Carlos Leon. Next is Rocco Ritchie, who is 25. His dad is director Guy Ritchie. Then comes David Banda, 20, followed closely by Mercy James, also 20. Finally, the twins, Stella and Estere, are 13.
It is a blended family in the truest sense. They are spread across the globe, with David often being spotted in the fashion world and Rocco making a name for himself as a painter under the pseudonym "Rhed" (though the secret came out eventually).
Misconceptions about Madonna’s parenting and her kids
People love to assume these kids are just spoiled socialites. While they certainly have access to things we can only dream of, Madonna didn't raise them to be idle. You don't see them falling out of clubs at 4:00 AM every night. You see them working.
Lourdes has been working since she was a teenager. She helped run the Material Girl clothing line at Macy's when she was barely in high school. She’s been the face of Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney.
Another misconception is that Madonna "made" them famous. While the name helps get you in the door, the fashion and art worlds are notoriously fickle. If you can’t walk or you can’t paint, they’ll chew you up. Lourdes has managed to stay relevant by being selective. She doesn’t do every reality show offered to her. She doesn't post 50 times a day on Instagram. She keeps a level of mystery that is very "Old Hollywood."
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What’s next for the Leon-Ciccone clan?
As Lourdes enters her thirties, we’re likely to see her move further away from the "Madonna’s daughter" label. She’s already carving out a space in the underground music scene.
Mercy James is likely heading toward a career in music or perhaps medicine, given her connection to the hospital in Malawi. The twins are still in the thick of their teens, but if their stage presence is any indication, they’ll be the next generation of performers.
Summary of the facts
If you need the quick hits, here is the breakdown:
- Lourdes Leon age: 29 (Born 1996)
- Mercy James age: 20 (Born 2006)
- Stella and Estere age: 13 (Born 2012)
- Total daughters: 4 (out of 6 children total)
The age of Madonna's daughter is a moving target because there are so many of them, but Lourdes remains the primary figure people think of. She’s the 29-year-old icon-in-training who is proving that you can have a legendary mother and still be your own person.
If you are following their careers, the best way to see what's next is to keep an eye on the high-fashion runways of Paris and Milan. That's where Lourdes and David Banda usually pop up. For the younger kids, Madonna's own social media is the only place you'll get a glimpse, as she is notoriously protective of their privacy until they hit adulthood.
Keep an eye on Lolahol on Spotify if you want to hear what the next generation of the family sounds like. It’s not your mother’s disco, but it’s definitely worth a listen.