Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy's Relationship: A Look Back

When Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy began dating in 2012, they kept their eight-year relationship relatively out of the public eye. Fans were rarely given a glimpse into the details of their relationship due to a lack of tabloid headlines and social media. If Olsen and Sarkozy were photographed out and about, it was typically at various New York City social galas and sporting events. In 2015, the Elizabeth and James designer and French banker tied the knot.

Olsen once opened up on how she balances work and life with her then-husband and her two step-children in a rare 2017 interview with Net-A-Porter's PORTER magazine.

"I have a husband, two step-kids and a life; I have to go home and cook dinner," Olsen said.

Olsen and Sarkozy were married for nearly five years before she petitioned for an emergency divorce in 2020. Sources previously told PEOPLE their inability to see eye to eye on certain things such as lifestyles, careers and children ultimately led to their divorce. It wasn’t until nearly a year later that Olsen and Sarkozy officially reached a settlement.

Below, a look back at Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy’s relationship.

April 2012: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy first meet at a party

The pair reportedly met at a party in 2012 and had an instant connection. According to an Entertainment Tonight source, Olsen, now 33, was attracted to the French businessman’s outgoing personality.

Their early dates included midnight dinners at Nobu and horseback riding in the Hamptons, the source said, adding, "They're both very driven, intelligent and hard working, so there was definitely mutual respect there."

November 2012: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy are snapped in their first paparazzi picture together

During the course of their eight-year relationship, The Row designer and Sarkozy attended many public sporting events together — often the only time paparazzi snapped photos of the notoriously private couple. Their first was a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in November 2012.

October 2013: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy make a rare public appearance

The fashion mogul and her then-boyfriend turned the New York Academy of Art's gala, Take Home a Nude, into a date night in October 2013. Olsen and Sarkozy stepped out for the annual benefit again in 2014 and 2017.

March 2014: Mary-Kate Olsen is spotted with a ring after Olivier Sarkozy proposes

In March 2014, PEOPLE confirmed that the the Elizabeth and James designer was engaged after she was spotted wearing a massive ring on that finger while out and about in New York City.

The couple enjoyed their new status under the radar in Jamaica for a few weeks before the news broke: “They were engaged for a bit before it came out,” a source told PEOPLE at the time.

March 2014: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy enjoy a night out

Later that month, Olsen and Sarkozy posed for photos at a party celebrating the release of author Bob Colacello’s new book in New York City. The event, hosted by Diane von Furstenberg, marked the couple's first public appearance since getting engaged. Reports at the time stated that Olsen and Sarkozy had not yet started planning their wedding.

August 16, 2014: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy hit the Hamptons with Ashley Olsen

Olsen and Sarkozy attended the Paddle & Party for Pink benefit on Aug. 16, 2014. As reported by Vogue, the event took place at designer Lisa Perry’s private home in the Hamptons. Celebrity guests and competitive paddleboarders were there to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Olsen's twin sister, Ashley Olsen, was in attendance, and they posed for pictures with Perry. Olsen was also photographed sitting next to her fiancé.

March 2015: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy are spotted at an NBA game

The pair cheered on their hometown basketball team once again at the New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs game in March 2015.

November 2015: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy tie the knot

The designer and the businessman tied the knot in November 2015. Olsen’s on-screen dad and Full House costar Bob Saget confirmed the news during an appearance on the Today show.

“I was not invited, but I’m very happy and I sent a Mazel tov text,” Saget said. “I’m very happy, I love her very much. I hope they’re happy.”

The small ceremony took place at a private residence in the couple’s home city of New York, according to Page Six. About 50 guest enjoyed cocktails in the home’s back garden followed by dinner inside.

The celebration was stocked with “bowls and bowls filled with cigarettes, and everyone smoked the whole night,” a source told Page Six, and all attendees were required to turn off their cell phones before entering the event.

Another of Olsen’s Full House costars added to the well-wishing: “I’d like to congratulate Mary-Kate and wish her and her husband all the happiness in the world,” Dave Coulier said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight, adding that he will be “Sending my love.”

March 2017: Mary-Kate Olsen discusses married life with Olivier Sarkozy in a rare interview

In March 2017, the Olsen sisters sat down with Net-A-Porter’s PORTER magazine, where they discussed balancing their work and family life (Sarkozy has two teenage daughters from a previous marriage).

“We’re lucky [working hard] comes quite naturally for us," Olsen told the outlet. "We don’t need so much time to sit and think and ponder. But then I have a husband, two step-kids and a life; I have to go home and cook dinner. I ride horses on the weekends. You find the thing that helps you relax and if you don’t have it, you have to look for it. Or you get burned out and then you’re not productive.”

September 1, 2017: Mary-Kate Olsen competes in a horse show as Olivier Sarkozy cheers her on

Sarkozy supported Olsen as she competed in the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Sept. 1, 2017, in Bridgehampton, New York. Olsen finished third in the “amateur-owner jumper classic” category. After the competition, the couple stuck around to enjoy the rest of the equestrian exhibitions that day.

November 7, 2017: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy pose together for a cute couple's photo at the Minnie Muse blog relaunch

The couple's love for one another was captured in a series of photos on Nov. 7, 2017. That night, Olsen and Sarkozy attended the Minnie Muse blog relaunch in New York City. PEOPLE previously noted the behavior of the notoriously private couple being somewhat out of the ordinary as they posed together for “cute cuddly” pictures and even cracked a couple of smiles for the cameras.

April 2018: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy have dinner with Sarkozy's daughter

In April 2018, Sarkozy's daughter Margot (whose mom, Charlotte Bernard, was married to the French businessman for 14 years) joined the couple at the Glasswing International Gala in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood.

May 16, 2019: Olivier Sarkozy supports May-Kate Olsen at another horseback riding competition

Olsen competed in the International Global Champions Tour at the Club in Madrid on May 16, 2019. She placed six in her class riding her horse, Naomi, but was disqualified while riding her horse, Fatum, due to an “error of course,” according to Page Six. Nonetheless, Sarkozy was there to cheer Olsen on throughout the event.

May 18, 2019: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy make their last public appearance

Olsen and Sarkozy looked happy one year before news of their divorce broke — they shared an intimate moment at the International Global Champions Tour in Madrid on May 18, 2019.

Olsen competed in the horseback riding competition, and Sarkozy was there to cheer her on.

April 17, 2020: Mary-Kate Olsen petitions for divorce from Olivier Sarkozy

The fashion mogul signed a petition to divorce the French banker, 50, on April 17, but due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, New York courts haven't been accepting divorce filings — except in cases of emergency.

According to TMZ reports, Olsen says her attorneys received an email from Sarkozy's lawyers stating that she needed to move out of the couple's N.Y.C. apartment by May 18. Olsen's asking that Sarkozy extend the deadline to May 30 — as she can't meet the deadline due to stay-at-home mandates in the city — but claims he hasn't responded. She also claims he terminated their lease without her knowledge.

The documents reportedly state that one way Olsen could have protected her property is by filing the divorce petition, which would "trigger an automatic court order preventing him from disposing of her property." TMZ also reported that she requested in the divorce petition that their prenuptial agreement be enforced.

May 13, 2020: Mary-Kate Olsen is denied request for emergency order in divorce from Olivier Sarkozy

In April 2020, Olsen filed a petition to divorce; however, it was not accepted by the courts due to the coronavirus pandemic. New York courts were not accepting divorce filings at that time — except in cases of emergency. This led to Olsen requesting an emergency order to speed up the process. Olsen also cited fears of being kicked out of her New York City apartment.

Olsen's request was denied on May 14, 2020, with the judge deeming the matter as "not essential."

​​"Domestic violence is an emergency, perhaps refusing to provide health care is an emergency," New York City matrimonial attorney Bernard Post told PEOPLE. "I want to be divorced because I want to be divorced now is not an emergency."

May 2020: Sources tell PEOPLE Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy’s inability to see eye to eye on things led to their split

A week after the news broke that Olsen was filing for divorce after four and a half years of marriage with Sarkozy, sources told PEOPLE why the two split up. One source shared that the couple could not decide whether to have children. “A few years ago, having a baby was not a priority for her," the source said. "This has changed.”

Another source revealed to PEOPLE that Olsen’s focus on her career was another factor.

"Mary-Kate is extremely hard working and focused on her business," said the source. "Her work schedule is beyond disciplined. She is the type of person who would never complain about a 12-hour work day. Olivier never understood her drive and passion. He would have loved to have a stay-at-home wife."

May 25, 2020: Mary-Kate Olsen officially files for divorce from Olivier Sarkozy

The day the New York City courts reopened after closing due to the coronavirus pandemic, Olsen officially filed for divorce from Sarkozy. The week before, Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks announced that the electronic filing system in New York City's five boroughs will reopen on Memorial Day, accepting new lawsuits and divorce filings (even those deemed non-essential).

July 10, 2020: Mary-Kate Olsen is spotted for the first time since her split with Olivier Sarkozy

Olsen was spotted for the first time since filing for divorce from Sarkozy on July 10, 2020. The designer was photographed leaving her New York City office she shares with her twin sister.

August 3, 2020: Mary-Kate Olsen is seen staying in the Hamptons following her split from Olivier Sarkozy

Olsen was photographed leaving Tutto il Giorno in the Hamptons on Aug. 3, 2020. It was only the second time The Row designer was photographed since her split from Sarkozy.

January 2021: Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy reach a divorce settlement

In January 2021, it was reported that Olsen and Sarkozy settled their divorce.

The details of the settlement remain sealed; however, according to Entertainment Tonight, the agreement was reportedly “reached amicably" and "everyone is looking forward to moving on." The source also told the outlet that there's "no bad blood between" the former couple.