| Bio – MK & Ash Olsen
born: 13-06-1986
birth place: Sherman Oaks,
California
At 18, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen aren’t just rich and ambitious, they are mini-moguls. They are already worth $40 million and counting. And every penny they have made themselves.
Not quite identical twins but close enough to act the same part on TV, Mary-Kate and Ashley began splitting a role on the network sitcom “Full House”, literally before they could walk. By the age of four they were child stars, the lynch-pin of the show and earning a pittance.
When he saw how little the girls were paid, Robert Thorne, a producer, asked the twins’ parents if he could represent them. He secured a raised of $150,000 each per episode. “Full House” was cancelled in 1995 and Thorne took a chance and cast the twins in their own adventure videos.
The films, full of clean fun, immediately appealed to the kids who have grown out of cartoons and are not yet into teen movies. Thorne founded a company called Duals and made the seven year old girls executive producers. Together the trio hired directors, writers and oversaw the entire presentation of the Dual brand.
Sensing that the twin consumers had pocket money to spend, Thorne suggested Duals start up lifestyle lines – clothes, cosmetics, home furnishings etc… Last year the company made $970 million globally, Thorne expects that to double in 2004. It is possible that the girls could be billionaires before they make it to
New York
University in autumn 2004…
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