Paris Hilton

Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American socialite, television personality, model, actress and singer. She is the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, the founder of Hilton Hotels. Born in New York City and raised there and in Beverly Hills, California, Hilton began her modeling career as a teenager when she signed with Donald Trump's agency, T Management. Her lifestyle and rumored short-lived relationships with Leonardo DiCaprio and Oscar De La Hoya made her a feature of entertainment news, and Hilton was called "New York's leading It Girl" in 2001. Critics and admirers have said that Hilton is famous for being famous, exemplifying the celebutante: a celebrity not through talent or work, but through inherited wealth and lifestyle. She has parlayed her media fame into perfumes and a fashion line with her endorsement; her fragrances have reportedly earned $1.5 billion. There are 44 Paris Hilton stores worldwide, with products including perfumes, handbags, watches and footwear. Hilton earns over $10 million a year from product sales and, as of 2005, was paid about $300,000 for appearances in clubs and events.