SpongeBob SquarePants is officially hitting a massive milestone today, turning 40 years old. His exact birthday comes straight from a canon in-show detail, leaving longtime fans everywhere feeling more than a little old.
The proof is right there on his Bikini Bottom driver's license, which first appeared in the Season 1 episode "Sleepy Time." It lists his official birthdate as July 14, 1986, meaning he reaches the big 4-0 today.
His age sparks some funny contradictions. The show premiered on Nickelodeon 27 years ago on May 1, 1999, which would have made SpongeBob just 13 years old back then—meaning he started at the Krusty Krab as a teenager.
Creator Stephen Hillenburg always pictured SpongeBob as an adult but deliberately kept his exact age wonderfully ambiguous. The character perfectly balances a pure, kid-like sense of wonder with grown-up responsibilities like owning a home and working a full-time job.