Operation Gold Mine

Background:

Ashley Olsen is half of a solid gold mine. The Olson multimillion-dollar empire has placed them in the Forbes list of the World's 100 most powerful celebrities (2003).

Amazing when you consider that Ashley is 5ft.3 and barely old enough to vote.

"We've stayed really normal and down to Earth I think, and haven't let the success thing go to our head."

Ashley and her twin sister Mary-Kate became the youngest self-made millionaires in American history before they were 10 years old, and they did it the hard way... they earned it.

The Older One

Childhood and Family:

Ashley Fuller Olsen was born on June 13, 1986 in Los Angeles, California to parents David (mortgage banker) and Jarnette Olsen (manager). Ashley arrived just two minutes before her fraternal twin, Mary-Kate, was born. They share an older brother, Trent (born 1982), and a younger sister named Elizabeth (born 1989).

Ashley's parents were divorced in 1996.

Instant Infant Celebrity

Career:

Ashley became a celebrity at just nine months of age, co-acting (sharing the role of Michelle with her twin sister Mary-Kate) in the family comedy TV series Full House. Due to the United States child-labor laws, the girls took turns starring in the role. Their adorable faces turned the phrase "You got it Dude" into a popular icon. The show's success lead way to an additional rich source of revenue from Full House merchandise sold on store shelves. The Olsen twins soared in popularity.

At just 6 years old, Ashley and her twin, Mary-Kate, established themselves as the youngest producers in history with the creation of Dualstar, which means dual stars. Teaming up with Robert Thorne, who became the company's CEO, Dualstar proved to be a brilliant business endeavor.

Albums, videos, movies were produced for eager fans. In 1992, their first album, Brother for Sale, was released. The video movie, To Grandmother's House We Go, was released in 1992. This was only the beginning. A list of some of Ashley's early goodies include: Double, Double, Toil and Trouble (1993), How the West Was Fun (1994), The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of Thorn Mansion (1994), The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the Logical Ranch (1994), It Takes Two (1995), You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's
Sleepover Party (1995), The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the Sea World Adventure (1995), The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the Mystery Cruise (1995), and The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the Fun House Mystery (1995).

The list does not quit, and nether do the twins. Ashley shares a Hollywood sidewalk star with sister Mary-Kate and they were the first twins ever to receive such an honor.

They own a clothing line that can be found at popular Wal-mart, and publish the Mary-Kate and Ashley Magazine. Some of Ashley's newer works include: Holiday in the Sun (2001), Getting There (2002), The Challenge (2003), and New York Minute (2004). She also is enrolled at New York University.

Whoever said that hard work doesn't pay?

Awards:

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DVD Exclusive Awards: Franchise Performers Award (2003) - shared with Mary-Kate Olsen
-  Young Artist Awards: Best Youth Actress in a TV Mini-Series, M.O.W. or Special, DOUBLE, DOUBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE (1994)
-  Young Artist Awards: Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Under Ten, Full House (1992)
-  Young Artist Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Actress Under Nine Years of Age, Full House (1990)
-  Young Artist Awards: Best Young Actor/Actress - Under Five Years of Age, Full House (1989)