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Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Built a Billion-Dollar Empire—Here's What We Learned

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In our eyes, the Olsen twins can do no wrong. From their iconic style we all want to mimic to their tenacious business acumen, the stylish duo haven’t put a (stylish) foot wrong since they launched Dualstar, at just 6 years old. Now, they’re building a billion-dollar empire that runs the gamut from fashion to fragrance with their brands Elizabeth and James and luxury line, The Row—arguably the Hermès of America. In 2011, their parent company, Dualstar recorded over $1 billion in sales.

On top of that success, they are also incredibly well respected in the fashion community, having won three CFDA awards. It's pretty clear that these stylish sisters know what they’re doing. But we want to know how? According to an interview with Vogue, the Olsens bought out the former owners of Dualstar when they turned 18 and took a break from acting to focus on the business. You might ask how they had the qualifications to run a billion-dollar company at such a young age, but as Mary-Kate quips, “Well, at that point we had been working eighteen years.” Fair point.

To glean a little more insight—and in honor of their birthday today—we read through some of favorite interviews with them (they’re notoriously shy so this required an internet deep dive) and pulled together their best business advice so you too can build a billion-dollar empire.

—Mary-Kate Olsen, as told to WWD.

Ashley Olsen, as told to WWD.

Mary-Kate Olsen, as told to Vogue.

Mary-Kate Olsen, as told to British Vogue.

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Mary-Kate Olsen, as told to Allure.

Mary-Kate Olsen, as told to The Telegraph.

Mary-Kate Olsen, as told to The Telegraph.

Ashley Olsen, as told to The Telegraph.

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Ashley Olsen, as told to The Telegraph.

Mary-Kate Olsen, as told to Newsweek.

Mary-Kate Olsen, as told to MyDomaine.

Ashley Olsen, as told to MyDomaine.

Mary-Kate Olsen, as told to MyDomaine.

Mary-Kate Olsen, as told to Net-a-Porter.

Ashley Olsen, as told to Net-a-Porter.