Born into wealth and the American equivalent of aristocracy, Paris Hilton was the oldest of %Kenneth Hilton and %Kathy Richards' four children, and an heir to the family's hotel chain (her great-grandfather, %Conrad Hilton, was the founder). Growing up in New York and L.A., Paris, though she was often seen with celebrities, didn't become a household name until her ex-boyfriend %Rick Salomon released a sex tape of theirs onto the Internet in 2003, shortly before her Fox reality show, #The Simple Life, was set to air. The show, which filmed Paris and (former) best friend %Nicole Richie as they tried to live on an Arkansas farm without the modern conveniences they were used to (credit cards, cell phones), became a hit, and almost instantly, Paris' name and image were everywhere.