35 Things You Didn’t Know About The Olsen Twins

We share with you the ultimate in Mary-Kate and Ashley trivia. Prepare to have your mind blown...

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

by Elizabeth Bennett |
Updated on

Raise your hand if you feel like you have grown up with the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley? Thought so.

Ever since the days of Passport to Paris, Billboard Dad and all their other brilliant Disney movies (they're now available to stream on Netflix, FYI, if you're ever short of weekend plans...) along with their TV shows Two Of A Kind and So Little Time, we've been obsessed with their co-ordinating style. (Remember that George at Asda fashion range? These two were doing high street crossover style when Kate Moss's Topshop collaboration was just a glint in the supermodel's eye...)

While these days their photo opportunities are few and far between (which is probably why we can never wait to see what they'll be wearing for the Met Gala each year...) their sartorial sense is still unbeatable.

In celebration of our favourite Noughties fashion icons, we've put together a load of facts that you probably didn't already know about the famous sisters, covering everything from their net worth and their fashion label to their personal style icons to Ashley's middle name (yes, she has one too) and their collective love of vintage.

Grab an iced coffee, some over-sized sunglasses and prepare to celebrate the Noughties' most enduring duo...

Gallery

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts1 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

1. Ashley is oldest

By a mere 2 minutes to be precise.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts2 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

2. They're fraternal twins

This means they are not actually identical. Who would have thought it?

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts3 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

3. Ashley is actually shorter than Mary-Kate

But only by 1 inch.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts4 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

4. They started on Full House when they were 6 months old

The tiny tots use to the call the other actors on the show by their full names to avoid getting confused.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts5 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

5. At 6 they became the youngest producers in Hollywood history

They created Dualstar Entertainment in 1993.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts6 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

6. Back then they weren't individuals

Full House producers credited the twins as 'Mary-Kate Ashley Olsen' in early seasons of the television show. Apparently they didn't want people knowing Michelle Tanner was played by twins.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts7 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

7. They had dentures on Full House

The twins lost their baby teeth at different times so had to be fitted with fake teeth instead.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts8 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

8. The duo were millionaires by the time they were 10

The youngest self-made millionaires in American history, in fact. Jealous, us?

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts9 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

9. Ashley also has a second name

It's Fuller. Mary-Kate and Ashley-Fuller isn't exactly as catchy...

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts10 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

10. They’ve shared the stage with Wonder Woman and the cast of Friends

Full House was filmed on the same stage as numerous iconic shows.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts11 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

11. They broke records with the Hollywood Walk Of Fame

In 2004 they were awarded a joint star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame - the first twins to ever be recognised in such a way.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts12 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

12. Jimmy Fallon and Will Forte were their dates for prom

Well, kind of. The girls had to miss their high school prom to appear on Saturday Night Live. To make up for it, Fallon and Forte served as their dates in a prom themed sketch.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts13 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

13. They are of Danish and Swedish descent

This surely explains their Scandi levels of good looks.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts14 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

14. And they are pretty big in Norway

The twins launched a collection with Norwegian retailer Bik Bok in 2013.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts15 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

15. They were childhood friends with a Pretty Little Liar

Pretty Little Liars actress Troian Bellisario grew up across the street from the Olsens.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts16 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

16. Mary Kate has ADD

That's Attention Deficit Disorder to you and me.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts17 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

17. Only one of them was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in So Little Time

It was Mary Kate. Pretty awks.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts18 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

18. But their movie was a flop

New York Minute earned only $5.96 million during its opening weekend - the lowest amount ever earned for any film opening in over 3,000 theaters. We still loved it, just saying.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts19 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

19. Mary Kate likes running. Naked.

'I run around my house naked with heels all the time,' Mary-Kate told Harper's Bazaar in 2007. Each to their own and all that.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts20 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

20. They have an unusual taste in weddings

At Mary-Kate's 2015 New York nuptials 50 select guests had to hand in their mobile phones before enjoying dinner, cocktails and, erm, bowls of cigarettes.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts21 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

21. At the end of the day, they're just like us

'You know, the truth is I feel like I just learned how to brush my hair like last week,' Mary-Kate told Marie Claire in March 2014.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts22 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

22. Their fashion career started young

On Full House their character Michelle Tanner sported pieces from the likes of Chanel and Marc Jacobs.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts23 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

23. Their style icons might surprise you

In an interview with Miss Vogue last year Mary Kate cited Gigi Hadid as her style crush while Ashley went for Amber Heard. We love their muse Beatrix Ost.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts24 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

24. They do not shop online

In fact Mary Kate recently admitted in a rare interview with Vogue, 'I've never purchased anything online'.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts25 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

25. The t-shirt was the inspo behind their fashion line, The Row

Taking it's name from Savile Row, the twins started their fashion label The Row in 2006 in response to the question 'How could we make a perfect T-shirt in a great fabric that would fit any age?'

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts26 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

26. Shopping at The Row is not a normal experience

Think robes in the dressing room, free lunch and furniture borrowed from the girls' private apartments. Plus, their Melrose store comes complete with a full-size courtyard pool. Anyone for a dip?

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts27 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

27. They are now bonafide fashion stars

In October 2012, Mary-Kate and Ashley won the WSJ magazine Innovator of The Year Award.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts28 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

28. It’s a family affair for the Olsens

Their second clothing line, Elizabeth and James is named after their two siblings.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts29 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

29. Mary-Kate and Ashley are not the only entrepreneurs in the Olsen family

Their brother James sold his classmates photos autographed by his famous siblings.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts30 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

30. The Olsens changed their hair so people could tell them apart

To help tell the sisters apart, Mary-Kate had her hair tinted brown when they were younger.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts31 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

31. A museum was made in NYC and dedicated to them

Not even joking. The museum was dedicated to the twins 'hiding from paparazzi' after discovering an artist had several paintings of them hiding from the paps.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts32 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

32. Mary-Kate was proposed to with a $81,000 vintage Cartier engagement ring

Not even the slightest bit jealous. Olivier Sarkozy proposed to Mary-Kate with an $81,000 vintage Cartier engagement ring. The couple got married in 2015, and Mary-Kate recently filed for divorce.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts33 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

33. They were ranked as the eleventh-richest women in entertainment

It is estimated that their net worth combined is 300 million dollars. Woah.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts34 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

34. They exclusively wear vintage to the Met Gala

This year's look, worn for the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination event, was vintage Paco Rabanne...

Mary-Kate and Ashley Facts35 of 35
CREDIT: Getty

35. They prefer to get ready in the dark

'I don't do this myself, but I feel like the worst beauty habit that people have is when they pick their own skin,' Ashley told Elle a few years back. 'That's just really bad. Everyone's tempted to do it sometimes, but it's just the worst thing you can do. I prefer to get ready with the lights off so I'm never even tempted to look at my skin!' Surely there are less extreme ways... never mind.

READ MORE: Every Single Met Gala Theme From 1971 to 2020

Gallery

SEE: Every Met Gala Theme From 1971 - 2021

Met gala theme1 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1971-1974

1971: Fashion Plate1972: Untailored Garments1973: The World of Balenciaga1974: Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design Pictured: Cher, 1974

Met gala theme2 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1975

American Women of StylePictured: Pat Buckley

Met gala theme3 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1976

The Glory of Russian CostumePictured: Imelda Marcos and Christina Ford

Met gala theme4 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1977 - 1978

1977: Vanity Fair: A Treasure Trove1978: Diaghilev: Costumes and Designs of the Ballets RussesPictured: Barbara Walters, 1977

Met gala theme5 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1979

Fashions of the Habsburg Era: Austria-HungaryPictured: Margaux Hemingway and Bernard Foucher

Met gala theme6 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1980

The Manchu Dragon: Costumes of China, the Chi'ng DynastyPictured: Carolina Herrera

Met gala theme7 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1981

The Eighteenth Century WomanPictured: Bianca Jagger

Met gala theme8 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1982

La Belle ÉpoquePictured: Raquel Welch

Met gala theme9 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1983

Yves Saint Laurent: 25 Years of DesignPictured: Carolina Herrera

Met gala theme10 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1984

Man and the HorsePictured: Candy Pratts Price and Chuck Price1984 - Man and the Horse1985 - Costumes of Royal IndiaLa Belle Époque1983 - Yves Saint Laurent: 25 Years of Design1984 - Man and the Horse1985 - Costumes of Royal India

Met gala theme11 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1985

Costumes of Royal IndiaPictured: Cher

Met Gala Theme12 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1986

1986: Dance1987: In Style: Celebrating Fifty Years of the Costume InstitutePictured: Linda Carter and Blaine Trump

Met Gala Theme13 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1988

From Queen to Empress: Victorian Dress 1837-1877Pictured: Zandra Rhodes

Met Gala Theme14 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1989

The Age of Napoleon: Costume from Revolution to Empire, 1789-1815Pictured: Anna Wintour

Met Gala Theme15 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1990

Théâtre de la Mode: Fashion Dolls: The Survival of Haute CouturePictured: Naomi Campbell

Met Gala Theme16 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1991

_The gala was held without a theme_Pictured: Calvin Klein and Kelly Klein

Met Gala Theme17 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1992

Fashion and History: A DialoguePictured: Christy Turlington

Met Gala Theme18 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1993

Diana Vreeland: Immoderate StylePictured: Joan Rivers

Met Gala Theme19 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1994

Orientalism: Visions of the East in Western DressPictured: Oscar de la Renta and his stepdaughter Eliza

Met Gala Theme20 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1995

Haute CouturePictured: Princess Diana

Met Gala Theme21 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1996

Christian DiorPictured: Iman

Met Gala Theme22 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1997

Gianni VersacePictured: Salma Hayek

Met Gala Theme23 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1998

Cubism and FashionPictured: Sigourney Weaver

Met Gala Theme24 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

1999

Rock StylePictured: Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney

Met Gala Theme25 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2001

Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House YearsPictured: Naomi Campbell

Met Gala Theme26 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2003

Goddess: The Classical ModePictured: Stella McCartney and Kate Hudson

Met Gala Theme27 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2004

Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th CenturyPictured: Eva Mendes

Met Gala Theme28 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2005

The House of ChanelPictured: Nicole Kidman

Met Gala Theme29 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2006

AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British FashionPictured: Sarah Jessica Parker

Met Gala Theme30 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2007

Poiret: King of FashionPictured: Lucy Liu

Met gala theme31 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2008

Superheroes: Fashion and FantasyPictured: Taylor Swift

Met gala theme32 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2009

The Model As Muse: Embodying FashionPictured: Winona Ryder

Met gala theme33 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2010

American Woman: Fashioning a National IdentityPictured: Mila Kunis

Met gala theme34 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2011

Alexander McQueen: Savage BeautyPictured: Emma Stone

Met gala theme35 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2012

Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible ConversationsPictured: Amber Heard

Met gala theme36 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2013

Punk: Chaos to CouturePictured: Kate Beckinsale

Met gala theme37 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2014

Charles James: Beyond FashionPictured: Rita Ora

Met gala theme38 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2015

China: Through the Looking GlassPictured: Beyoncé

Met gala theme39 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2016

Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of TechnologyPictured: Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid

Met gala theme40 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2017

Comme des Garçons's Rei KawakuboPictured: Rihanna

Met gala theme41 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2018

Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic ImaginationPictured: Cynthia Erivo

Met gala theme42 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2019

Camp: Notes on FashionPictured: Kim Kardashian

Met gala theme43 of 43
CREDIT: Getty

2021

In America: A Lexicon of FashionPictured: Yara Shahidi

READ MORE: An A-Z Guide To Dressing Like The Olsen Twins

READ MORE: IMHO Mary-Kate And Ashley Olsen’s Passport to Paris Is Deeply Underrated

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us