Wrexham FC co-owner Rob McElhenney seeks legal name change, but his kids aren’t happy about it, says wife Kaitlin Olson
Rob McElhenney, co-owner of Wrexham FC and star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, has officially filed paperwork to change his legal name. According to documents submitted in Los Angeles, he wants to go by “Rob Mac,” a nod to his on-screen character Mac and a shortened version of his full name, Robert McElhenney III.
McElhenney revealed his plans during a May interview with Variety, explaining that as his creative ventures expand globally, the simplified name “Rob Mac” is easier for international audiences to pronounce.
However, the name change isn’t sitting well with everyone at home. His wife and It’s Always Sunny co-star, Kaitlin Olson, revealed that their children strongly oppose the change. “The kids are really not happy about it because they have that last name. And so do I, legally!” she said, hinting at her own reservations.
In 2024, McElhenney launched a private firm called “More Better Industries” and was a co-owner of “Mac’s Tavern,” a Philadelphia bar that recently shut down after 15 years.
McElhenney, 48, along with fellow actor Ryan Reynolds, also 48, acquired Wrexham AFC in 2021. Their ownership has drawn international attention to the club and is credited with boosting tourism to the Welsh city by 50%, thanks in part to the Disney+ documentary Welcome to Wrexham. In the past month alone, Reddit recorded over 300,000 searches related to Wrexham, as part of the growing “set-jetting” trend where viewers travel to locations they see on screen.
