Time is a weird thing when it comes to child stars. We tend to freeze them in our heads at the exact moment they were most famous. For most of us, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are still those wide-eyed kids on Full House or the adventurous teens running around Paris and Rome in direct-to-video movies. But here we are in 2026, and the calendar says something very different.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are currently 39 years old.
They were born on June 13, 1986. That means this coming summer, they’ll be hitting the big 4-0. It’s a bit of a "wait, what?" moment for anyone who spent their Saturday mornings watching The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley. They aren't kids anymore. Honestly, they haven’t been for a long time. While most people are still asking how old is Mary Kate and Ashley, the twins have been busy building a quiet, billion-dollar empire that has nothing to do with acting.
Why We Struggle to Pin Down Their Age
There’s a specific reason we get confused about their age. They basically retired from the screen before they were even old enough to rent a car.
Ashley’s last major gig was New York Minute in 2004. She was 18. Mary-Kate stuck around a little longer, doing Weeds and Beastly, but she effectively checked out of Hollywood by 2012. Because they vanished from the typical celebrity cycle of talk shows and blockbusters, we lost our "on-screen" markers for their aging process.
Instead of seeing them grow up in 4K, we only see them in grainy paparazzi shots or the occasional high-fashion editorial. It creates this mystery. You've probably noticed they don’t do social media. No TikToks, no "Get Ready With Me" videos. They are the definition of "quiet luxury," and that extends to how they live their lives.
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The Math: Born in 1986
To be precise, they were born in Sherman Oaks, California. Ashley is the older one—by a whole two minutes.
- Birth Date: June 13, 1986
- Age in early 2026: 39
- Upcoming Milestone: 40th Birthday in June 2026
It’s wild to think they’ve been working for nearly 39 of those years. They were cast as Michelle Tanner when they were just six months old. They started filming at nine months. Most of us were still struggling with solid foods while they were technically earning a paycheck.
Life at 39: More Than Just "The Twins"
The way they spend their time now is a far cry from the "You got it, dude!" days. They’ve successfully transitioned into some of the most respected figures in the global fashion industry.
Their brand, The Row, isn't just a celebrity vanity project. It’s a legitimate powerhouse. In late 2024 and throughout 2025, the brand's valuation hit the $1 billion mark. That’s billionaire status territory. They recently sold a minority stake to big-time investors, including the families behind Chanel and L’Oréal.
At 39, their "vibe" has shifted completely. You might see Mary-Kate at an equestrian event—she’s a serious competitive rider. Or you might hear about Ashley’s life as a mom. She married artist Louis Eisner in 2022, and they had a son named Otto in 2023. They kept the pregnancy so private that the public didn't even know until months after the baby was born.
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Different Paths, Same Birthday
Even though they are twins, their lives look a bit different these days:
- Ashley Olsen: Often seen as the more business-minded half, she serves as the CEO of The Row. She’s focused on the corporate growth and the brand's expansion into new markets like China.
- Mary-Kate Olsen: She takes the lead as the Creative Director. Her personal style—that "Bohemian-Goth-Chic" look—basically defined an entire era of fashion in the late 2000s. After her divorce from Olivier Sarkozy was finalized in 2021, she’s stayed largely out of the spotlight, focusing on design and her horses.
The Elizabeth Olsen Factor
When people talk about how old is Mary Kate and Ashley, they often bring up their younger sister, Elizabeth. There was a long time where Elizabeth was "the other sister." Now, she’s arguably the most famous person in the family to a younger generation, thanks to her role as the Scarlet Witch in the Marvel movies.
Elizabeth is 36 (born February 16, 1989). The age gap is small enough that they’re all very close, but large enough that Elizabeth had a totally different upbringing. She saw the madness her sisters went through and waited until she was an adult to really dive into the deep end of fame. It's a fascinating family dynamic. The older twins are the "silent" moguls, while the younger sister is the "visible" movie star.
What Most People Get Wrong About Them
There’s this weird myth that they’re "recluses." Sorta, but not really.
They are in their offices in New York almost every day. They attend fabric meetings, they fit garments, and they run a massive staff. They just don't want to be famous anymore. They realized early on—probably around age 18—that they liked the product more than the performance.
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Honestly, the fact that they are turning 40 soon is a testament to their longevity. Most child stars burn out or fade away. The Olsens just changed rooms. They moved from the soundstage to the atelier, and they’ve been more successful in the second act than the first.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re looking to keep up with them, don't look at IMDB.
- Watch the CFDA Awards: This is where they actually show up. They've won five of these (basically the Oscars of fashion).
- Check Fashion Week coverage: Look for "The Row" runway reports. They often do shows in Paris or New York, though they notoriously asked guests not to use phones at their last few shows.
- Don't expect a reboot: If you're waiting for them to show up in a Fuller House style reunion, give it up. They’ve made it very clear that chapter is closed, locked, and the key has been tossed into the Hudson River.
By the time June 13, 2026, rolls around, Mary-Kate and Ashley will be entering their 40s. It’s a milestone that marks four decades of being in the public eye, yet somehow remaining the most mysterious women in Hollywood. They’ve managed to do the impossible: they stayed relevant without saying a word.
To stay updated on their business moves, follow reputable fashion trade publications like Business of Fashion or WWD. They rarely give interviews, but when they do—like their rare 2021 chat with i-D—they offer a lot of insight into why they chose privacy over the spotlight. Knowing their age is one thing, but understanding their pivot from child icons to serious entrepreneurs is the real story.