THE PEOPLE. THE STORIES. THE IMPACT.Biographies & estimated net worth
PeoplespediaLIVES WORTH KNOWINGAn encyclopedia of remarkable lives
,

Hilary Duff Biography: From Lizzie McGuire to Pop Star and Producer

Daniel Reed
Hilary Duff headshot

Hilary Duff is an American actress, singer, author and businesswoman who became a household name as Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire, built a pop-music career, reinvented herself on television, and in 2026 returned to music with her first album in over a decade and a sold-out world tour.

Quick facts

  • Full name: Hilary Erhard Duff
  • Born: 28 September 1987, Houston, Texas, USA
  • Nationality: American
  • Occupation: Actress, singer, author, businesswoman
  • Known for: Lizzie McGuire, Metamorphosis, Younger, How I Met Your Father
  • Spouse: Matthew Koma (married 2019)
  • Children: Four — son Luca (born 2012) and daughters Banks (2018), Mae (2021) and Townes (2024)

Early life and background

Hilary Erhard Duff was born on 28 September 1987 in Houston, Texas, to Robert Erhard Duff, a partner in a chain of convenience stores, and Susan Colleen Duff, a homemaker who later became a film and music producer. Her older sister, Haylie Duff, also became an actress and singer. Both sisters took acting, singing and ballet lessons, and in 1993 they moved with their mother to California to pursue show business. Duff was homeschooled from the age of eight because of her acting work.

Her earliest screen work included her first major role as Wendy in Casper Meets Wendy (1998); a supporting role in The Soul Collector (1999) won her a Young Artist Award. After an episode of Chicago Hope, she was cast in — then dropped from — the NBC pilot Daddio in 2000. A week later, she landed the role that defined her career.

Lizzie McGuire and teen stardom

Lizzie McGuire premiered on the Disney Channel on 12 January 2001, with Duff as an awkward middle-schooler. The show ran for 65 episodes, ending on 14 February 2004. Disney reportedly made around $100 million from Lizzie McGuire merchandise, and Duff — paid a reported $15,000 per episode — was quickly labelled a teen idol.

The film spin-off, The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), grossed more than $55 million worldwide, and Duff was paid a reported $1 million for it. She also starred in Cadet Kelly (2002) and moved into theatrical films with Agent Cody Banks, Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) and A Cinderella Story (2004). Like fellow former Disney teen star Lindsay Lohan, Duff spent the early 2000s as one of Hollywood’s most bankable young actors.

Music career

Duff entered music in 2002 with the Christmas album Santa Claus Lane. Her breakthrough came with Metamorphosis (August 2003), which topped the Billboard 200, was certified 3× Platinum in the US, and sold more than three million copies in the US. Its singles “So Yesterday” and “Come Clean” became her signature songs.

Her self-titled third album (2004) debuted at number two and sold more than 1.8 million copies in the US. Most Wanted (2005) debuted at number one, and Dignity (2007) debuted at number three and was certified Gold, with “With Love” her highest-charting US single. After a greatest-hits collection in 2008, her music output slowed sharply, and she returned with Breathe In. Breathe Out. (June 2015), which debuted at number five. She has sold an estimated 15 million records worldwide.

Adult television reinvention

After a recurring role on Gossip Girl in 2009, Duff co-starred opposite Sutton Foster in Younger, TV Land’s comedy-drama about a 40-year-old posing as a 26-year-old at a publishing firm. As Kelsey Peters she earned People’s Choice nominations in 2016 and 2017; the show ran seven seasons to 2021. She also played Sharon Tate in The Haunting of Sharon Tate (2019), which she executive-produced.

A Disney+ Lizzie McGuire revival announced in August 2019 was scrapped — Duff confirmed it in December 2020 after the showrunner left over creative differences. She then starred as Sophie Tompkins — and produced — Hulu’s How I Met Your Father (2022–2023).

Books and business

Alongside acting and music, Duff built a business career. She launched the clothing line Stuff by Hilary Duff in 2004, and her first fragrance, “With Love… Hilary Duff” (2006, with Elizabeth Arden), was one of the three best-selling department-store fragrance launches that year. She later launched the Muse x Hilary Duff eyewear collection with GlassesUSA.

In 2010 she signed with Simon & Schuster and co-wrote the young-adult novel Elixir with Elise Allen; it became a New York Times bestseller, followed by Devoted (2011) and True (2013). She has invested in Kopari Beauty, Cubcoat and Nudestix, and in 2019 became co-owner and chief brand officer of the Happy Little Camper and Veeda brands.

Personal life

Duff married former NHL player Mike Comrie in August 2010; the couple divorced in 2016. Their son, Luca Cruz Comrie, was born on 20 March 2012. She later married musician, songwriter and producer Matthew Koma in an intimate ceremony at their Los Angeles home on 21 December 2019. They have three daughters: Banks Violet (born 2018), Mae James (2021) and Townes Meadow (2024).

The 2026 comeback

Duff signed with Atlantic Records in September 2025 and released the single “Mature” on 6 November 2025. Her sixth studio album, Luck… or Something, arrived on 20 February 2026, debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and reached the top five in six countries.

Her first full-scale global headline tour in almost two decades, the Lucky Me Tour, kicked off on 22 June 2026 and played sold-out shows at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, New York’s Madison Square Garden and London’s The O2. The October 2026 Australian leg — Brisbane, Sydney, two nights in Melbourne and Perth — sold out entirely, and 32 further dates were announced for 2027. She is scheduled to receive the Outstanding Pop Tour of the Year award at Billboard’s Live Music Summit on 10 November 2026.

Duff was back in the headlines on 3 November 2026, when Billboard released an episode of its Take Me Out video series in which she recalled her “spiciest” night out with friends. She recounted a revenge prank from her “late teen-hood” on a boy who had been “doing my friend real dirty”: “We were spicy and we went and bought the cheapest, grossest can of wieners and tuna and we just had a little field day on his front lawn.”

Net worth snapshot

Hilary Duff’s net worth is estimated at around $25 million in 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The full breakdown is in Hilary Duff’s net worth.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Hilary Duff?

Hilary Duff was born on 28 September 1987 in Houston, Texas, making her 39 years old in November 2026.

What is Hilary Duff doing in 2026?

She released her sixth studio album, Luck… or Something, on 20 February 2026 and is touring the world on the Lucky Me Tour, which sold out arenas including Madison Square Garden, the Kia Forum and London’s The O2, plus all five of its Australian dates in October 2026.

Is Hilary Duff married?

Yes. She has been married to musician, songwriter and producer Matthew Koma since 21 December 2019, when they wed in an intimate ceremony at their Los Angeles home. She was previously married to former NHL player Mike Comrie from 2010 to 2016.

How many children does Hilary Duff have?

She has four children: son Luca Cruz Comrie, born in March 2012, and three daughters with Matthew Koma — Banks Violet (born October 2018), Mae James (born March 2021) and Townes Meadow (born May 2024).

Will there be a Lizzie McGuire revival?

No. Disney+ announced a revival in August 2019 with Duff returning as a 30-year-old Lizzie, but after the showrunner departed over creative differences, Duff confirmed on 16 December 2020 that the revival had been scrapped.

Sources