Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton, born on February 17, 1981, in New York City, is an iconic American media personality, socialite, and businesswoman. As the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels, she emerged as a prominent figure in the late 1990s, captivating the public with her vibrant presence in New York's elite social scene. Her foray into fashion modeling began in 2000, and by 2001, she was celebrated as 'New York's leading It Girl.'

Her rise to global fame was propelled by the reality television series The Simple Life, which aired from 2003 to 2007, where she starred alongside her friend Nicole Richie. Additionally, a leaked sex tape with her then-boyfriend Rick Salomon, released as 1 Night in Paris in 2004, further solidified her status as a household name.

Hilton's extensive media career includes various reality shows such as Paris Hilton's My New BFF (2008–2009) and Cooking with Paris (2021), alongside documentaries like Paris, Not France (2008) and This Is Paris (2020). She has authored several books, including Confessions of an Heiress (2004) and Paris: The Memoir (2023), and hosts the podcast I am Paris (2021–present). Her ventures into acting include roles in House of Wax (2005) and Repo! the Genetic Opera (2008), while her music career features the studio albums Paris (2006) and Infinite Icon (2024).

A polarizing figure, Hilton has been credited with influencing the 'famous for being famous' phenomenon of the 2000s. Critics often label her a celebutante, a term that reflects her rise to fame through inherited wealth and a lavish lifestyle. Forbes recognized her in its Celebrity 100 list in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and named her the most 'overexposed' celebrity in both 2006 and 2008. Beyond her media presence, Hilton has successfully launched numerous business ventures, including a perfume line that has generated over two and a half billion dollars in revenue as of 2020.