Does Paris Hilton Own Hilton Hotels?

Paris Hilton, the American media personality and businesswoman, shares a last name with the famous Hilton hotel chain.

However, despite the name similarity, Paris does not own or run Hilton hotels.

A Common Misconception

It’s a common misconception that Paris Hilton is the heiress to the Hilton hotel fortune. After all, she shares the well-known Hilton surname.

But while Paris comes from the wealthy Hilton family, the hotel chain was actually founded by her great-grandfather, Conrad Hilton.

The History of Hilton Hotels

The first Hilton hotel was established in 1919 in Texas by Conrad Hilton. Conrad went on to build the company over several decades, eventually expanding nationally and internationally.

In 1946, Hilton Hotels Corporation was formed to manage the growing chain of Hilton hotels. After Conrad Hilton’s death in 1979, his son Barron Hilton took over as chairman, president, and CEO of the company.

So Who Owns Hilton Hotels Now?

Today, Hilton hotels are still owned and operated by Hilton Hotels Corporation, which is now known as Hilton Worldwide.

Hilton Worldwide continues to be controlled by members of the Hilton family. Barron Hilton’s son, Steven M. Hilton, was chairman of the board until 2017. Currently, Christopher J. Nassetta serves as CEO and William J. Stein as chairman of the board.

Paris Hilton’s Family Background

Paris Hilton is Conrad Hilton’s great-granddaughter. She was born in 1981 to Richard Hilton and Kathy Hilton (née Avanzino).

Her paternal grandparents were Barron Hilton, who headed Hilton Hotels, and Marilyn June Hawley. Her maternal grandparents were Laurence K. Avanzino and Sharon Kathleen O’Connor.

So while Paris was born into the wealthy Hilton clan, the direct family connection to the Hilton hotel business was actually a couple of generations removed at the time of her birth.

What Paris Inherited

When Barron Hilton died in 2019 at age 91, it was reported that 97% of his estate would be donated to charity as part of his philanthropic endeavors. Most of his wealth did not pass directly to his children or grandchildren.

However, Paris Hilton and her siblings did inherit an estimated $5.6 million each from Barron’s estate. While substantial, this represents just a small fraction of the Hilton family fortune.

Paris also reportedly earns around $10 million annually from various business ventures, including fragrances, endorsements, reality TV shows, and more. So while wealthy, her personal net worth is far less than the value of the multibillion-dollar Hilton hotel brand.

Paris’ Connection to Hilton Hotels

Although she is not the owner or heiress of Hilton Worldwide, Paris Hilton has frequently partnered with Hilton hotels for endorsements and promotions.

For example, in 2005 she participated in a national advertising campaign titled “The Waldorf-Astoria Kid,” promoting the luxury hotel chain. She also opened a number of international Waldorf-Astoria properties.

These partnerships leverage Paris’ celebrity profile while tapping into the global recognition of the Hilton name. However, Paris does not have any direct corporate or financial control over the brand.

Who Stands to Inherit Hilton?

With Conrad Hilton’s descendants now ranging from Paris’ generation to her nieces and nephews, the question of who will someday inherit leadership of Hilton Worldwide remains open.

Barron Hilton expressed wishes for the business to remain under family control in the future. But for now, Hilton Hotels Corporation continues to operate independently as a publicly traded company without any single controlling shareholder.

While Paris Hilton has achieved fame in her own right, her association with Hilton hotels stems mostly from being part of the prominent Hilton family tree. She does not personally have ownership or control of the multi-billion dollar hotel empire built by her great-grandfather. That responsibility lies with the executives leading Hilton’s global hospitality business today.

So in summary, no, Paris Hilton does not own or run Hilton hotels – but the enduring bond between her family’s name and the famous brand remains strong.