How Paris Hilton Pioneered the $250B Creator Industry and Who She Really is When The Cameras Go Down (A Side She’s Never Shared Before)

0:00Paris Hilton, are you ready to get a hot smart rich? Yes. Of course, we're family. I know exactly what I want. You don't feel safe or supported. You're not going to be able to live up to your biggest potential. The media was so cruel, especially to women. What did that teach you about yourself now that you're on the other side of it? I can tell just by looking in someone's eyes if I could trust them or not. I was born to be an entrepreneur. I take care of my skin like an Olympic athlete. I've always been like a tomboy at heart. People don't know that side of me unless they really know me. It's so much fun.

0:29It's very freeing. The$250 billion creator economy you started. I had no idea that I would be testifying in Congress and passing legislation, really elevating women's stories that need to be heard. I want to be remembered for my heart and my kindness. I'm extremely proud of what I've created. This was so much fun. Thank you, sis. Love you.

0:56In case you missed it, you're allowed to be hot, smart, and rich. So let's get into it.

1:07Paris Hilton, are you ready to get Hot Smart Rich? Yes. I feel like you are the queen of Hot Smart Rich. I can't believe you're here. Thank you so much for doing this. Of course, we're family. So by the time this comes out, we are literally going to be family. Okay, you have so many iconic looks and different styles. How do you decide what you're going to wear every single day? I am all about like vibes, themes. Like I have so many different styles, so it depends what I'm doing. Like if I'm going to D.C. and I'm speaking on Capitol Hill, I love being like not legally blonde vibes, but kind of like advocacy Barbie vibes.

1:45But like very chic, elegant. Like today I was going for like sister vibes. So I thought this Violet's like pretty like hot housewife vibe. Yeah. And then if I'm like chilling at home, I'm just like in like when you see me like a tracksuit, socks, my like eye patches. I love my skin care. And then if I'm performing, I love like pop star Barbie vibes. So it's so fun because I wear so many different hats, like with all the different businesses that I'm involved in and that I do in my life. So I can just always dress for the occasion. I feel like this is the first time I was saying that I'm seeing you in like Paris Hilton mode, which is so cool because I usually see you in sweats and like you're always bare faced and you're not doing glam.

2:31And so it's so cool to be able to see this different character of you. I think because, yeah, like my most natural is just me being at home, being a mom. So that's like my most chill. And then I've always been like a naturally shy person. So I think almost dressing up and being in a character, it makes me less shy because I'm like, oh, that's my more playful, fun side. What does it feel like for you when you go undercover in your black wig, your hat and your sunglasses? It's so much fun. It's like very freeing because I'm so used to when I go places, like as soon as I walk in, just people immediately recognize me.

3:07So it's hard to really just like, I don't know, be yourself or do like, yeah, like go to Disneyland or just walk in, you know, like the flea market on Melrose or do things like that without making a huge scene. So it's nice just to like totally be undercover and just be able to like walk around and like observe and go on adventures and just kind of just be normal. It's like one of my favorite things to do. I love that on the weekends. Was there ever a place that you went undercover that people should have recognized you and didn't? I feel like people always will somehow they like realize it's me.

3:43but I think one of the times that I was very surprised was when I was in Dubai I was doing my show called Paris Hilton's my new BFF and I wanted to go to the big mall so the stylist was like okay you couldn't see anything only just like sunglasses basically and I don't know how but people were just like is that Paris Hilton and they just knew it was me that's crazy they said they could feel the energy and the vibe that is crazy but I feel like you do have that aura about you and I think that's why I'm so excited about this interview because normally when people interview you're in Paris Hilton mode and we are going to be family by the time this comes out you have been married to Arim for five years almost yes what is your biggest piece of advice as I now am just going to be married to Arim my biggest piece of advice is just to always be best friends because they are so kind so sweet like so lovely they have such amazing family values they're so close with their mom I know they're just it's like amazing just to see like how close the whole family like it's so cute to be prepared for a lot of activities because these reams they love their sports the tennis the volleyball the week surfing week surfing jet skiing water skiing skiing yeah snowboarding it was like our first couple weeks of dating and he invited me home for Christmas to Michigan.

5:08And I thought it was just gonna be like a chill vacation. And they're like, All right, we're getting up at 9am. We're gonna go play tennis, then we're gonna go like skiing down the mountain and go like make snowmen and like, do this play basketball. And like, I'm like, what? And then go in the water and do this ice polar bear challenge thing. I'm like, okay, and I'm like, pretending I like like all these things in my mind. I'm like, Oh, my God, This is so much. I'm so tired. But you do it so well. Like, I think that's also something that people don't know about you. You are actually very athletic.

5:42Like, you ski extremely well. Like, you're wake surfing. Like, you actually are down for it, which I feel like is part of why you and Carter make such a good team. Yeah, I've always been like a tomboy at heart. A lot of people don't know that side of me unless they really know me. So I do love it all, but it is a lot. I'm not used to doing every single sport in one day. But it's fun. So I'm just saying be prepared for a lot of that. I'm sure you've seen it already. Yeah. So that and just supporting each other. And I see you guys doing that already. So I feel like I don't even need to give you advice on that because you just like I feel like you guys are meant to be like I really believe that you guys are soulmates.

6:17I love you. And twin flames. I think so, too. Like it is so, you know, you can't choose the family that you're going to enter into. And I think for you, I was always so interested, like when a new person comes into your life, you've been obviously around so many people. Like you don't know what people's intentions are. Like, what is it like for you when someone new comes into the family or comes into your circle? Yeah. I have grown up in this town, so I've seen a lot and I feel like I can read people very well. Like I have seen it all. So I can like tell just by like looking in someone's eyes, like what type of person they are and if I could trust them or not.

6:56So I was very happy the first time I met you. I was like, she's so beautiful. She's so smart. she's just like perfect for Courtney I could just like see how happy and excited he was I'd never had seen him like that and you guys just like click so well together and I think that's amazing when you can find someone where you guys are just like a team and you guys lift each other up and support each other and I think that's really beautiful to see and I'm just happy to have you as part of the family I'm so excited we have such a unique family everyone adds something so so important and magical and you almost can't really describe it.

7:31You and Carter are the ultimate power couple. How do you guys best collaborate? It's so important like who you end up marrying, who is your partner and how you will be in life through everything because if you're in a bad relationship and you don't feel safe or supported like you're not going to be able to live up to your biggest potential. I love that we both just support each other with everything that we do and just like teammates, best friends. We always have fun no matter where we are, what we're doing. And I love that he is so interested in everything I do. He's always there no matter what I'm doing.

8:10If I'm, you know, in DC for my advocacy work, if I'm on stage being a pop star, he's always front row. Like it's just being my biggest cheerleader and just like making me smile and so happy. And then anytime that he has something that's important for his business, I'm always there to support him and just always being by each other's side. And he's so smart. He's so smart. I love I can learn so much from him. Like I always am asking for advice. And I feel like I give him good advice too, because we both are experts in different areas. So many women feel like they have to choose one or the other.

8:46When you decided that you wanted to have kids. I saw in 2017, you said to time, I'm ready for the next thing. I don't want to stop being a businesswoman, but I do want to be a mother. Do you think it's possible to have it all? Definitely. I think I'm living proof of that. How do you think now that you are a mom, it has changed your relationship with yourself and with your career? Motherhood has just been the most incredible experience of my life. I just feel so happy, so at peace. My life is finally complete. And it's really just taught me just how important time is. Like, it has to make it worth my time.

9:26Before I was married, I was traveling over 250 days out of the year for two decades. And it was a lot. So now that I have a family, I just want to be with my babies as much as I can so I will only say yes to things that are meaningful things that make a difference or they're iconic one of the things I love about you and I was literally thinking about this and I was making the seating chart for the wedding is I was like when we were in Michigan like halfway through the dinner you would like sneak out of the adult's table and go to the kids table and just sit with your babies and it's little things like that just getting to watch you as a mom you would rather be with your kids every single second that you get versus being at the adults table and I think that just speaks so much to when you have the time you are with them 24 7 which people like don't actually know what Paris do you think that Lundy and Feeney see the real P just me this living mom they see the one that is fun and I'm just such a kid at heart.

10:34We have the best time with each other. I just feel like I'm living my childhood again with them. We love watching cartoons in bed. I've seen Moana like 500 times. Thank God I created my cartoon Paris and Pups because that's our new favorite cartoon. So it's so fun just to see the world through their eyes again. Like this weekend, we were just in my room. We're packing up everything for the new house and watching The Simple Life together. And the kids are just like looking up like mama mama mama the cow and just like laughing so just so fun your hand into the that was nicole yeah they were scared at that part the cow was screaming oh my god but it's just so fun it's just like seeing the world again through their eyes just the excitement and wonder and they're just the sweetest cutest babies in the world okay let's go back to before you were Paris Hilton.

11:2750 million people identify as a creator as their full-time job now. You literally started that industry. The$250 billion creator economy, you started. Was there ever a moment where you were like, whoa, this is now a business? I think that moment I realized that it was right when I got back from shooting The Simple Life. it's like 2003 and I just remember walking into this club one night and the entire room was like looking back at me everyone's like pulling out their flip phones and then I went outside there's so many paparazzi going crazy and then I just started seeing people like wearing that's hot shirts, like saying my catchphrases, getting chased through airports by paparazzi.

12:21It was just, it just turned into like this whole thing. And then when I released my first perfume and had my first appearance and just, there was thousands and thousands of people there. And I just realized like, wow, I can actually parlay this into building a brand and creating a business around it and it's just crazy now today that I just released my 30th fragrance called iconic which you have here loves it so good I wear it all the time I when I like need to channel my character like putting on a good face and like going out there and facing the world like I literally wear this oh I love that at that time though did you already start identifying as an entrepreneur or were you just like oh things are starting and I'm being noticed but did you be like, I am an entrepreneur and like, I am a businesswoman back then.

13:16I've always been that way ever since I was a little girl. I think I got my first taste for business, I guess. Back when I was a little girl, we would live in the Malibu colony every summer and my sister and I would like do lemonade stands and then I would like make jewelry and like sell like little things like literally outside the front of my house at like seven years old. So I I feel like I was always like born to be an entrepreneur and I was extremely close with my grandfather and he was my business mentor. And I just looked up to him so much and I would always just ask him for advice when I was with my grandfather one night.

13:54And it's like, I'm so proud of you. You work harder than any CEO that I know. And I just think it's incredible, like what you've done and what you've accomplished. and I used to be known as Baron Hilton and now I'm known as Paris Hilton's grandpa and we were laughing and that was something that I'll never forget because looking up to someone your whole life and then having them say something like that to you was just a very surreal moment. So it's just been an incredible journey and I'm just extremely proud of what I've created. You should be. It's honestly, if I think about just how many people identify with being a creator now just to know that you started that and you still have a vision that we'll get into in a little bit of like where it's gonna go which I'm so excited to talk about yeah it always just blows my mind just to see what it's turned into today because when I was doing it I was so ahead of my time always that there wasn't even a name for it yet but I was already doing it and now just to see that it's become like an entire like job basically or I I think it's pretty incredible that anybody could really create their own personal brand and make their dreams come true.

15:07You have been so ahead of your time. And with that, you've had to face a lot of people that have like really misunderstood you when now as a creator, I think anybody that chooses this as a profession, you know, you are going to be misunderstood by people. But back then, like you were misunderstood by so many people. What did that teach you about yourself now that you're on the other side of it? It's taught me how strong I am, especially, you know, growing up in the 2000s, just because the media was just so cruel, especially to women. So I've been through a lot and been underestimated. and I can understand why, you know, with The Simple Life, creating that character of the dumb blonde.

15:54And some people didn't understand that that was just, you know, it was for a show and it was a character that I created and almost like a shield in a way as well. Just from going through trauma as a teenager, I think I just kind of like built this kind of like protective shield to protect me and then got The Simple Life and then it became the show and then I had to continue doing this character season after season. So I think a lot of people, if they didn't really know me, they wouldn't understand that there was so much more to me. Another thing about being underestimated is it also gave me that fuel to show people that they were wrong.

16:34And that's one of my favorite things about being underestimated is proving people wrong. Being underestimated, you are a chart-topping artist, a best-selling author, the highest paid female DJ, an award-winning filmmaker, philanthropist, a serial entrepreneur behind$4 billion of retail products. You've done more than most people could ever want to do in a lifetime. But I think what's so cool to watch talking about this character is like, you almost become a third character when you talk about impact work that you do. I saw it a little bit last week when I was like, I'm taking Courtney to my school.

17:09And you were like you went into your character mode of being this like bad bitch, protective, assertive, like I didn't have a great experience at my school. And just seeing that side of you, I would love for people to know what happens to you on a personal level when you dig into that impact side of what you do. It's been the most meaningful work of my life, you know, just to be the hero that I needed when I was a little girl to be a voice for millions of children who are voiceless to make real impact and real change and really turn pain into a purpose. I feel that everything in life happens for a reason, and I feel that God gave me this special gift, and one day I would use my voice to make a difference in so many people's lives.

17:53Just when I do this work, it really comes from my heart, and just knowing that I'm standing up for all these kids who really need it. I'm just so proud of everything that has happened since I really started using my voice to make a difference. Most people, when they think of Paris Hilton's businesses and$4 billion worth of retail sales, they would think, oh, naturally she's hiring commercial people or revenue driving people. But your second hire at 1111 was literally the head of impact, Rebecca. Why was that decision to hire an impact role more important to you than a revenue generating role when you were thinking about that building 1111?

18:34So with 1111, I wanted everything that I do there to lead back to impact and making a difference. When I was releasing my documentary, This Is Paris back in 2020, I just thought it had such an important message. And I wanted somebody to help me get that message out there and to work with me and going to DC and pushing for legislation and laws to protect children. So I was so excited when I met Becca and she's just been such an important part in my life and in just all of this incredible work that we're doing together. I had no idea that I would be literally, you know, speaking on Capitol Hill and testifying in Congress and passing legislation.

19:25It's just, it's really amazing the power and using your voice and telling your truth. I'm so grateful for her, just for being by my side and standing with me. And it's been a very emotional journey because it's difficult to, you know, go and speak in front of these senators and legislators about things that are so personal and painful. But to know that it's going to stop it from happening to others is just been the most empowering experience of my life. You guys have done so much incredible work since she joined you, including passing 14 state laws and a bipartisan federal bill that you passed with U.S.

20:07Congress, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. What did that moment feel like when that bill passed? It was just a dream come true. I just remember when I heard that, just like bursting into tears. Me and Rebecca were like hugging each other like, we did it. And it just felt incredible. It's just to celebrate something that is so meaningful and really is going to not only change lives, but save lives. There's so much more to do, but the fact that people are listening, and this is something that has been around since the 1960s, and nothing has been done to protect these children until now. When I did my documentary, I had no idea that something like this would come from that.

20:57It's just been amazing how it's really just started this movement. And for so many people and survivors who have been through this to come forward and tell their stories and finally feel safe and able to tell their truth. And it's been the most healing experience of my life as well. I feel like I see that side of you so much, like when the LA fires were happening and we were all evacuated at the hotel. It was so cool to watch you behind the scenes in your sweatpants, literally meeting with so many people as your house is burning down. Is there another character of you that comes to life? That's just the real Paris.

21:29That's like who I am at my core and just the type of person that I am. Like the character that everyone else sees is like the one on the red carpet or the more glamorous, fun side. I feel like I'm here to bring happiness and sparkle and joy to the world. That's what I feel like I was meant to do. I like love getting to watch that side of you. I also love getting to use Perivi because it is the thing that has cured my tech neck from looking down so much. And I feel like people need to know that when you're not in glam, you wear zero makeup and you wear eye patches 24 seven and Perivi. What is your current skincare routine?

22:07It's been incredible to seeing everyone's skin journeys online and with all the clinical studies we did with these women and just to make products that really work like formulas that are backed by science and really creating this entire brand from the ground up for the past three years and to see it all come to life. And I am obsessed with every product, like the infinite youth technology is insane. Like my skin has never looked better. I am so excited for all the other new products that we're making, but my skincare routine is of course my cleanser. Then my infinite youth serum, my moisturizers, the neck cream, which is incredible for your neck and the decolletage, the moisturizers, the night and the day one.

22:59You have the most successful celeb fragrance line of all time with$3 billion in retail sales over the last decade. Why would you go deeper into beauty now with Para-V? With Para-V, I really wanted to create something that was mine. I feel like I've been in this industry for a long time. I've had 20 different product lines, done so many licensing deals. I've made these companies billions of dollars. And now I wanted to have ownership of something that I created from the ground up, something that I'm a majority stakeholder in. This is the first time that I've done that with any of my product lines.

23:38And it's something because I am so passionate about skincare, about wellness, longevity, about bringing people products that make them happier, more confident, feel better in their skin, and what better way than doing it through skincare, and creating products that make people feel their best, where then they can go out into the world and feel confident and good in their skin, and be preventative as well. I think it's so important to start at a young age, just the importance of skincare and staying out of the sun and moisturizing and learning all that. And also it's like a ritual. I think self-care is so important for yourself, for your mental wellness and just that ritual for, you know, the moms out there as well.

24:29So at night when it's like their time, they can have their skincare ritual and just feel like loving it just every part of it just everything from the packaging and just seeing these beautiful pink bottles that are just like the shapes of them the style like I love the moisturizer as like this like star on it that's like the sparkle from my branding and it just turned out so beautiful so I just love that people can like display it look at it use it and feel amazing in their skin The packaging, all of it is designed by myself and my team and the laboratory that we work with. Okay, that's what I really want people to know because I will have this memory of you forever.

25:10Like we were watching Super Bowl last year together and you were making a mood board. And I was like, wow, this is the most beautiful creative process that people need to understand about what you do. What is your creative process when you're designing something like the packaging? I'm a very visual person and I love like before Pinterest like existed I think I was just like making my own Pinterest boards like on the floor at my house like I always like cutting up magazines photos going online printing things out just thinking of like textures colors I'll be just inspired by anything like oh like my car with like the holographic wrap on it like I want that kind of vibe but on here with pink so just kind of I don't know I just will see things and just like take certain elements from it and then start creating these mood boards which are like huge poster boards and the glue and scissors and like cutting things out making collages and just so I can kind of show people what I'm talking about so anytime I'm doing a new product line or if I have a new design that I'm doing for whatever like a costume that I want to have made or or a clothing line that I'm doing, or purses, whatever design I'm doing for a product.

26:27I always love just putting together the exact mood board of what I want it to be, what the aesthetic is, and then bringing it all to life. And now with AI, it's even more fun because I'm able to do that and take photos of my mood boards, then put it in the AI, and then just create anything that my mind can come up with with it. So it just like really accelerates the process as well. I love that you actually made your branding so unique and so Paris Hilton. It's not just like another white bottle with a black logo on a shelf. Can you just talk people through your design process of the products?

27:04Let's be honest. The world doesn't need another white bottle with black font on it. It's boring. This is completely different because this is something, it is my baby. like from building it literally from the ground up the past over three years and coming up with every single thing the bottle design just the colors we're going to use the texture how it feels the scent like i was obsessive about it like hyper focused on every single detail going back and forth with laboratories some of the products i went iterations maybe like 17 of them just going back and forth with every texture. I wanted it just to be perfect and have real results.

27:47So this, it was a long process. Like it took a long time. I know exactly what I want. I have been obsessed with skincare my whole life. My mom taught me a skincare routine at eight years old. I've tried everything. I've been all around the world, every incredible spa, every, you know, world renowned esthetician, facialist, like I'm obsessed. I take care of my skin like an Olympic athlete and I've learned everything about it. So I just, I know what works. I know it doesn't. I know what I want. And I wanted to make something for not only for myself, but for the world and something that would help just millions of women and men around the world who want to have slitting skin.

28:30I feel like you've always known what you want and who you are, even when other people didn't first see your vision. Kathy recently mentioned that you and Nikki weren't initially on board with her doing The Real Housewives and now you love it. Has there been a business that you've wanted to launch that initially your parents didn't see and now that they love? With The Simple Life when Fox called and said we want Paris to do this reality show they actually asked my sister and I to do it and Nikki right away was like no hell no I'm not doing that I'm not doing a reality show and my mom was like I don't think it's a good idea and was trying to convince me not to do it but just like how I always am I was like I'm gonna do what I want so I did it and then the night after it aired my mom called me the next morning and was like you know what I'm never wrong but I was wrong about that like the show is incredible you and Nicole are so hilarious I love it so much I'm so proud of you so yeah that was the one time that she said that she was wrong and now she's just like anything you say, she's like, yep, like Paris knows.