Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American businessperson, potential future heiress, actress, producer, singer and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton (founder of Hilton Hotels). In 2001, Hilton began to develop a reputation as a socialite and to be identified as "New York's leading It Girl", whose persona started to be a constant fixture beyond the New York tabloids. She found a wider fame for her controversial participation in a sex tape, which was released in November 2003, shortly before the premiere of the television reality series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood best friend Nicole Richie. The show was a massive hit for the FOX network, premiering with 13 million viewers,[3] and brought Hilton and co-star Richie to an international recognition.
She then released her 2004 tongue-in-cheek autobiography called Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose,[4] which was followed up with the 2005 release of Your Heiress Diary: Confess It All to Me. That same year, she landed a supporting role in the horror film House of Wax, and later recorded the 2006 music album Paris. The first single of the album, "Stars Are Blind" was a top ten hit in 17 countries. Hilton starred in the reality show Paris Hilton's My New BFF which was filmed in Los Angeles and aired in 2008 and which also resulted in a second season. The show proved to be a success and was branched out to Paris Hilton's British Best Friend and Paris Hilton’s Dubai BFF. All seasons were broadcasted on MTV. She appeared in the 2008 horror misical film Repo! The Genetic Opera, in which her performance was praised by several critics.
She has appeared in various lists copiled by magazines such as Maxim, FHM as well as Stuff. She is also regularly placed on lists composed by Forbes magazine and was named She was named one of the "100 Hottest Women of All-Time" by Men's Health.[5] Critics also suggest that Hilton epitomizes the title of famous for being famous.[6] She has parlayed her media fame into a fashion line and various perfumes with her celebrity endorsement — her fragrances have reportedly earned $1.4 billion. As of 2012, her net worth is estimated to be $100 million.[1] Hilton's personal life has also garnered media attention since her beginning in the industry, particularly her widely publicized arrests, her high profiled relationships and her reputation as a party girl. She is an example of the modern phenomenon of the "celebutante", the celebrity who rises to fame not because of their talent or work but because of their inherited wealth and controversial lifestyle.
