Paris Hilton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton in October 2021
Born	Paris Whitney Hilton (1981-02-17) February 17, 1981 (age 44) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Media personality businesswoman children's rights activist socialite model singer actress DJ
Years active	1996–present
Works	List
Spouse(s)	Carter Reum ​ (m. 2021)​
Children	2
Parent(s)	Richard Hilton Kathy Hilton
Relatives	Hilton family
Musical career
Genres	Pop Hip hop Dance
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Warner Bros. Cash Money

Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American media personality, businesswoman, and activist. She is also known as a socialite, model, singer, actress, and DJ. Born in New York City and raised there and in Los Angeles, she is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels.

Paris first became known in the late 1990s for being part of New York City's social scene. She started fashion modeling in 2000. In 2003, she became famous worldwide with the reality TV show The Simple Life. On this show, she starred with her friend Nicole Richie.

Paris Hilton has been involved in many media projects. These include reality TV shows like Paris Hilton's My New BFF (2008–2009) and Cooking with Paris (2021). She has also appeared in documentaries such as This Is Paris (2020). She has written books like Confessions of an Heiress (2004) and hosts a podcast called I am Paris. Paris has acted in films like House of Wax (2005) and has released music albums, including Paris (2006). Since 2012, she has also performed as a disc jockey.

Paris has used her fame to create many businesses. She has launched various product lines, including a very successful perfume line. Her perfumes have earned over US$2.5 billion. She has also opened boutiques and an urban beach club in the Philippines.

Early Life and Family

The Waldorf Astoria New York, where Paris Hilton lived during her teenage years.

Paris Hilton was born on February 17, 1981, in New York City. Her father, Richard Hilton, is a businessman. Her mother, Kathy Hilton, is a socialite and former child actress. Paris is the oldest of four children. She has a sister, Nicky (born 1983), and two brothers, Barron II (born 1989) and Conrad Hughes (born 1994). Her great-grandfather, Conrad Hilton, founded Hilton Hotels. Her maternal aunts are TV personalities Kim and Kyle Richards.

Paris's family moved often when she was young. They lived in Beverly Hills, the Hamptons, and a suite in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. Her family described her as a "tomboy" who wanted to be a veterinarian. Her mother remembered Paris saving money to buy monkeys, snakes, and goats.

Paris grew up in a "sheltered" home. Her parents were strict and did not allow her to date or wear certain clothes. Her mother enrolled her in etiquette classes. Paris did not like these classes at first. The family knew famous people like Lionel Richie, Donald Trump, and Michael Jackson.

In Los Angeles, Paris went to the Buckley School and St. Paul the Apostle School. She finished elementary school in 1995. She spent her freshman year of high school at the Marywood-Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage, California. In 1996, her family moved to the East Coast. At 15, she attended Professional Children's School. She enjoyed skating and playing ice hockey in high school.

Career Highlights

Early Career and Modeling (1996–2002)

Paris Hilton started modeling as a child at charity events with her mother and sister. She also had a small role in the film Wishman (1992). After moving to New York City in 1996, Paris became known as a socialite. She was often seen at nightclubs and important events. She even used a fake ID to get into clubs when she was 16. This lifestyle attracted attention from local newspapers.

At 19, Paris decided to become a professional model. She signed with Donald Trump's agency, T Management. She modeled for designers like Catherine Malandrino and Marc Bouwer. She also posed with her sister for a photo shoot in Vanity Fair magazine in 2000. By 2001, Paris was a big star at New York Fashion Week. She appeared in ads for the Italian brand Iceberg and in magazines like Vogue.

Besides modeling, Paris also started acting. She appeared in the film Sweetie Pie (2000) and had a cameo as herself in the comedy Zoolander (2001). In 2002, she acted in the short film QIK2JDG and starred in the horror film Nine Lives.

Becoming a Global Star (2003–2007)

Paris Hilton became very famous in 2003. She starred with her childhood friend Nicole Richie in the Fox reality show The Simple Life. In the show, they lived for a month with a family in a small town in Altus, Arkansas. The show was very popular, with 13 million viewers watching the first episode.

By 2004, Paris had many supporting roles in films and TV shows, such as Raising Helen and The O.C.. She also released her autobiography, Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose, which became a New York Times best-seller. She launched her own lifestyle brand. This included a purse collection, a jewelry line, and a perfume line. Her first perfume was so popular that it greatly increased sales for the company that made it.

Paris Hilton at a 2005 conference in Munich.

In February 2005, Paris hosted NBC's Saturday Night Live. In May, her first major film role was released in theaters. It was the slasher film House of Wax. Her acting in the film received mixed reviews. She won the Teen Choice Award for Best Scream for her role. House of Wax earned over US$70 million worldwide. In May 2005, she appeared in a TV ad for Carl's Jr. By the fall of 2005, she published her second book, Your Heiress Diary: Confess It All to Me, and launched another perfume, Just Me.

The Simple Life was canceled by Fox in 2005 after three seasons. This happened because of a disagreement between Paris and Nicole. They later became friends again in 2006. Other TV networks were interested in the show. E! picked up The Simple Life and ordered a fourth season. The new season was very successful for E!.

Paris released her first music album, Paris, on August 22, 2006. The album reached number six on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 600,000 copies. Its first song, "Stars Are Blind", became a global hit. It was played on many radio stations and reached the top ten in 17 countries. Critics generally had mixed feelings about the album, but some called it "more fun" than albums by other pop stars. In 2006, Paris also appeared in the comedy films Bottoms Up and National Lampoon's Pledge This!.

The Simple Life ended after its fifth season, which aired from May to August 2007. That year, Paris launched her fourth perfume, Can Can. She also started a line of hair extensions and a footwear line called Paris Hilton Footwear. She launched a clothing line at the Kitson Boutique in Los Angeles.

New Ventures and DJing (2008–2019)

In 2008, Paris starred in the romantic comedy The Hottie and the Nottie, which was not successful. She also appeared in a documentary about herself called Paris, Not France. She acted in the musical film Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008). Some critics praised her role in Repo!, while others did not.

Paris starred in an MTV reality show called Paris Hilton's My New BFF. The show was about her search for a new best friend. It was very popular. She also appeared in funny online videos and created a clothing line for dogs called Little Lily by Paris Hilton. Due to the success of the American show, similar versions were made in England and Dubai. In 2009, Paris released a sunglasses line and hair products. She won the Female Celebrity Fragrance of the Year Award.

Paris Hilton in 2009.

In 2010, Paris appeared in the documentary Teenage Paparazzo. She also had her first voice-over role in the TV film The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation. That year, she launched a footwear line in Las Vegas and her own motorcycle racing team in Spain.

In 2011, Paris returned to reality TV with The World According to Paris on Oxygen. The show focused on her daily life. She also modeled for fashion weeks in Brazil and Ukraine. She continued her business ventures, launching a mobile app and footwear collections in Mexico City and Istanbul. Starting in 2011, Paris opened several boutiques selling her products in countries like Egypt, India, and the Philippines.

On June 28, 2012, Paris made her first appearance as a DJ at Brazil's Pop Music Festival. She received some negative comments from other DJs. In 2012, she starred in a music video for Korean singer Kim Jang-hoon and a commercial for a Turkish fashion brand. She also launched a line of sunglasses in Shanghai.

After appearing in a music video for Rich Gang in 2013, Paris signed with Cash Money Records. She released three songs: "Good Time" (2013), "Come Alive" (2014), and "High Off My Love" (2015). These songs had moderate success on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic charts.

In August 2013, Paris became a DJ at Amnesia's "Foam and Diamonds" parties in Ibiza. Her performances were well-received, and she continued to DJ there for several years. In November, she won the Best Breakthrough DJ award at the NRJ DJ Awards. In 2013, Paris also appeared in the Danish version of Paradise Hotel and briefly played herself in Sofia Coppola's film The Bling Ring.

In January 2014, Paris became a resident DJ at Harrah's Atlantic City. In March, she launched her first real estate project, the Paris Beach Club, in the Philippines. In July, she made another cameo in a Carl's Jr. commercial. To grow her DJ career, Paris went on a tour with 13 shows in different countries. By November 2014, she was one of the highest-paid female DJs and won Best Female DJ at the NJR DJ Awards.

In March 2015, a mobile game company announced they would use Paris's name and image for games. In June, she performed at Summerfest in Milwaukee for 50,000 people. In 2016, Paris partnered with Lidl for a hair care collection.

Between 2017 and 2019, Paris appeared in several music videos for artists like Demi Lovato and Young Thug. She also frequently modeled for designers like Christian Cowan and Philipp Plein at fashion weeks. In April 2017, she starred in a funny ad for SodaStream. In June 2017, she launched footwear and home decor lines in Mexico City.

In 2018, Paris was featured in two projects about social media. The documentary The American Meme premiered on Netflix. She also hosted Hollywood Love Story on Viceland. That year, Paris modeled for Kanye West's Yeezy collection. She released a song called "I Need You" and launched a clothing collection with Boohoo.com, a skincare line, and nail polishes.

In 2019, Paris modeled for Philipp Plein again. She was a special guest on Germany's Next Topmodel. She also collaborated on music with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and MATTN. In July 2019, she performed as a DJ at Tomorrowland.

Recent Activities and Activism (2020–present)

The documentary This Is Paris (2020), released on YouTube Originals, explored Paris Hilton's personal and professional life. In the film, Paris shared her experiences with abuse she faced as a teenager at certain boarding schools. She said that filming the documentary helped her heal. The film received over 16 million views in its first month and helped to change her public image.

From 2020 to 2024, Paris appeared in many advertisement campaigns. These included campaigns for Skims, Valentino, Uber Eats, and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. In 2023, she opened a special pop-up store with Klarna in Los Angeles.

In 2020, Paris was a guest judge on James Charles's YouTube show Instant Influencer. She also produced and starred in a short film called Sorry. She modeled at Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 and released a song with Lodato, "I Blame You". In 2021, Paris renamed her company to 11:11 Media. She also created London Audio with iHeartMedia and Slivington Manor Entertainment with Warner Bros. Unscripted Television.

Her podcast I am Paris started on February 22, 2021. It features personal stories and conversations with her family and other celebrities. It is the main podcast from her company, London Audio.

Starting in 2021, Paris launched several NFT collections. One collection with designer Blake Kathryn earned US$1.5 million. She also created "ParisWorld" on Roblox in 2021 and on The Sandbox in 2022. In June 2022, she created a fund for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to help buy digital art by female artists. She also became an investor in companies focused on wellness and digital technology.

Netflix released Cooking with Paris on August 4, 2021. It was a six-part reality series that Paris hosted and co-produced. It received mixed reviews but briefly made it into Netflix's daily Top 10. Her next reality series, Peacock's Paris in Love, premiered on November 11, 2021, the day she married Carter Reum. Paris won the Best Reality Return award at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards for both Cooking with Paris and Paris in Love.

In 2022, Paris released a tracksuits line, sunglasses, and a housewares collection on Amazon. She voiced herself in the animated web series Rainbow High and modeled for Versace at Milan Fashion Week. She performed her song "Stars Are Blind" with Christina Aguilera and Mya at the Los Angeles Pride festival. She also performed with Miley Cyrus and Sia on NBC's Miley's New Year's Eve Party.

On December 30, 2022, Paris released an updated version of "Stars Are Blind" called "Stars Are Blind (Paris' Version)". Another version with Kim Petras was released in June 2023. She also featured in Petras's song "All She Wants".

Paris played the host of a reality dating show in the horror film Alone At Night, released on January 20, 2023. Her third book, Paris: The Memoir, was published on March 14, 2023. She described it as a continuation of her "self-discovery" journey that began with her 2020 documentary. The book debuted at number three on the New York Times Best Sellers list.

Paris launched "Parisland" on The Sandbox in February 2023 and "Slivingland" on Roblox in August 2023. By February 2024, Slivingland had over 3.4 million users. In 2023, she held her first concert in Los Angeles. She also released the song "Hot One", collaborated with Steve Aoki on "Lighter", modeled for Mugler at Paris Fashion Week, and released a cookware collection with Walmart. She performed as a disc jockey at Tomorrowland.

Activism and Philanthropy

Paris Hilton has used her public platform to support various causes. She has attended fundraising events, visited children's hospitals, and orphanages. She has worked with the Starlight Children's Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She has donated a lot of money to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. In 2008, a room at the hospital was named in her honor. For her charity work, she received the Heart of Gold Award in 2011 and the National Humanitarian Award in 2014.

In 2011, Paris supported the LGBT rights organization NOH8. She also participated in a run for the American Red Cross to help with relief efforts in Japan. In 2015, she raised US$100,000 for children with disabilities in Ibiza. In 2017, she donated 50 personal items to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Starlight Children's Foundation. She also visited San Gregorio Atlapulco, Mexico, after an earthquake. She handed out food and clothes and donated US$350,000 to help rebuild homes.

In October 2018, Paris hosted Rock The Runway, an event that helped Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. A part of the money from her 2018 nail polish line went to Animal Haven, a rescue group for animals. In June 2019, Paris took part in an all-female car rally across Europe. This event raised money for charities like Sumbandila and The Helen Bamber Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Paris performed a DJ set at a virtual music festival. This helped raise donations for No Kid Hungry and Music Cares. A portion of the money from her merchandise collection went to organizations feeding frontline workers.

Paris Hilton during a press conference outside the United States Capitol in October 2021.

The documentary This is Paris (2020) brought attention to Paris's experiences in certain boarding schools as a teenager. She spoke about the emotional and physical abuse she faced. This led to more interest in #BreakingCodeSilence, a movement by people who were sent to similar programs. On October 9, 2020, Paris held a protest outside Provo Canyon School in Utah.

On February 8, 2021, Paris spoke to the Utah State Legislature. She supported a new law that would require more government checks on youth treatment centers. She shared her own difficult experiences during her 11-month stay at Provo Canyon School when she was 17. She said staff members beat her, watched her shower, and put her in solitary confinement. On March 2, the Utah Legislature approved the bill, known as SB127. On October 20, Paris held a press conference at the United States Capitol. She worked with lawmakers to support a new law called the Accountability for Congregate Care Act. This law would protect children in such facilities. In 2022, she spoke to the United States House Committee on Ways and Means to help improve child welfare in the United States.

In 2023, Paris supported the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. This bill aims to provide more oversight and transparency for youth treatment programs. It will help prevent child abuse in these places. The bill passed both parts of Congress and will become law.

Cultural Impact

Influence on Pop Culture

Paris Hilton's rise to fame happened when society became more interested in celebrities and the internet became more common. She is said to have influenced a new type of celebrity. These celebrities became famous by sharing their private lives, especially through reality TV and later social media.

In 2018, Lili Anolik from Vanity Fair noted that Paris understood how important movie stars were. She said that Paris only needed to "perform herself" – a beautiful, bubbly blonde. In 2020, a Los Angeles Times editor called her "the woman who will likely go down in history for putting the 'i' in influencer." Bert Marcus, the director of The American Meme, said Paris "paved the way for creating a brand and a celebrity out of being herself."

Paris Hilton signing autographs in 2008.

Paris Hilton helped make reality television popular in the early 2000s. After The Simple Life premiered, many other reality shows started appearing on TV. Dazed magazine said that any reality star who makes money by working with brands is "selling a sort of post-Hilton aspirational glamour." Many famous people, like the Kardashian family and Kim Kardashian, have said that Paris influenced their careers. Kim Kardashian even thanked Paris for "giving" her a career.

Paris Hilton's influence on fashion, newspapers, and Hollywood in the 2000s made her a pop culture icon. Her fame also led to a growth in celebrity culture, with many newspapers and paparazzi focusing on her. For example, a photo of Paris could cost between US$8,000 and US$1 million. Her clothing style, like tracksuits, rhinestones, and trucker hats, became a popular fashion trend. She also helped popularize "handbag dogs." People magazine wrote that Paris perfectly defined the fashion and celebrity style of the early 2000s.

Journalists and scholars have studied Paris Hilton's role and influence. Feminist writer Camille Paglia called her a "groundbreaking" figure in Hollywood. Her quote, "Dress cute wherever you go; life is too short to blend in," was added to The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations in 2009.

Personal Life

Paris Hilton's personal life has often been in the news. People have paid attention to her glamorous lifestyle, her many friendships and relationships, and her frequent partying.

Paris is well-known for her love of small dogs. She had a female Chihuahua named Tinkerbell, along with many other pets. Paris was often seen carrying Tinkerbell, who was called an "accessory dog," at social events and on The Simple Life. Tinkerbell passed away in April 2015 at age 14. Paris even had a special 300-square-foot house built for her pets. It had air conditioning, heating, and designer furniture.

Paris lives in Beverly Hills. She also owns a house in Mulholland Estates, a property in Malibu, and a penthouse in Manhattan.

Relationships and Family

In 2000, Paris was seen with Leonardo DiCaprio, which drew media attention. She dated actor Edward Furlong in 2000 and poker player Rick Salomon in 2001. She was engaged to fashion model Jason Shaw from 2002 to 2003. They remained friends after their breakup. She had a seven-month relationship with singer Nick Carter in 2004.

Paris started dating Greek shipping heir Paris Latsis in December 2004, and they got engaged seven months later. They called off the wedding in November 2005. She then dated another Greek heir, Stavros Niarchos, from December 2005 to March 2007. Paris dated Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden from February to November 2008. She also had an on-and-off relationship with The Hills star Doug Reinhardt. She later dated Las Vegas nightclub owner Cy Waits. She dated Spanish model River Viiperi from 2012 to 2014, and businessman Thomas Gross from 2015 to 2016. Actor Chris Zylka proposed to her in January 2018, but they ended their engagement in November 2018.

In December 2019, Paris started a relationship with businessman Carter Reum. They got engaged on February 13, 2021, and married in Los Angeles on November 11. They have a son and a daughter, both born via surrogacy in January and November 2023.

The Bling Ring Incidents

Between 2008 and 2009, Paris Hilton's house was robbed several times by a group of thieves known as the Bling Ring. Her home was their first and main target, and most of the stolen items belonged to her. They reportedly broke into her house seven times. Paris reported the thefts after nearly US$2 million worth of jewelry, clothing, cash, and other items were stolen. She allowed Sofia Coppola to film some scenes for the movie The Bling Ring (2013) at her house.

Wealth and Earnings

According to Forbes, Paris Hilton earned a lot of money from her career. She earned about US$2 million between 2003 and 2004, and US$8 million between 2008 and 2009. By 2011, CNN.com reported her annual earnings were over US$10 million.

In 2007, Paris's grandfather, Barron Hilton, decided to give most of his family's fortune to a charity founded by her great-grandfather, Conrad Hilton. This reduced the inheritance for his grandchildren.

Much of Paris's wealth comes from her many endorsements and retail businesses. Her product lines and stores have generated over US$4 billion in sales. She also earns a lot of money for DJing and appearing at parties and events, sometimes between US$250,000 and US$1 million per appearance. For example, in 2014, she earned US$2.7 million for four nights of work as a DJ in Ibiza.

Works

Discography

• Paris (2006)
• Infinite Icon (2024)

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Paris Hilton in October 2021

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  The Waldorf Astoria New York, where Paris Hilton lived during her teenage years.

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  Paris Hilton at a 2005 conference in Munich.

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  Paris Hilton in 2009.

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  Paris Hilton at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

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  Paris Hilton with her mother Kathy Hilton and aunt Kyle Richards at an NBC event in February 2011.

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  Paris Hilton signing autographs in 2008.

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  Paris Hilton during a press conference outside the United States Capitol in October 2021.

See also

In Spanish: Paris Hilton para niños