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Paris Hilton, an actress, entrepreneur, DJ, model, and actress, has built a brand of her own over the years. Her fans know the iconic blonde for debuting in a (Fox) reality show. But critics say that her rise to fame is not accidental, and she is famous for being the granddaughter of the founder of Hilton Hotels, Conrad Hilton.

Hilton is no stranger to significant controversies. Most notably, she was arrested for possessing drugs and obstructing authorities. However, she didn’t receive prison time, but she received a fine, community service, and years’ probation.  In 2007, Hilton was sentenced to a probation violation and ordered to serve jail time.

How did Paris Hilton become famous?

Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton | JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP via Getty Images

Hilton being the granddaughter of a wealthy tycoon became an heir to his fortune. She was a privileged kid and managed to attend top schools, live in lucrative mansions, and enjoy her vacations in exclusive vacation homes.

Hilton lived a glamorous lifestyle and participated in high-end parties in New York. Her lifestyle managed to get her A-list connections, which brought her to the limelight. The recognition she attained for herself has helped build her brand.

When Hilton was in her early 20s, she debuted in a reality TV series called The Simple Life. In the show, she starred alongside Nicole Richie where they illustrated the working life of two socialites’ women who were doing regular jobs for a living.

Did Paris Hilton become famous after the release of the infamous sex tape?

Rick Salomon, an ex-boyfriend of Hilton, in 2003 released a sex tape named 1 Night in Paris. The sex tape was filmed in 2001 when she was only 19 years. After the release, Hilton claimed she was unaware of the release of the video. However, Salomon later sued her for defamation.

After the leaking of the sex tape, she quickly became famous and obtained a household name. She took advantage of the fame and ventured into business, starring in several reality shows and writing an autobiography. Currently, Hilton has managed to create a profitable brand, and she has a net worth of $300 million.  She is aspiring to make her net worth above the billion-dollar mark.

How long was Paris Hilton in jail?

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In 2007, Hilton was arrested for drunken driving, where she pleaded no contest to the charges. The judge sentenced her to a probation sentence of three years and a suspension of her driving license.

However, later she was caught by authorities driving using a suspended license. Her judge ruled it as a probation violation.

Hilton was arrested on a Thursday shortly after leaving the MTV Movie Awards, where she addressed the press and was the primary subject of the host’s jokes, Sarah Silverman.

Judge Michael Sauer, who was in charge of her hearing, had explicitly banned any house arrest pleas. Before the hearing, Hilton had requested to participate in the hearing via her phone, but Judge Michael denied the request and demanded that she physically attend the hearing.

The judge sentenced her to 45 days jail time but would be reduced to 23 if she behaved appropriately. However, due to undisclosed medical considerations, a new arrangement was made.

In the arrangement, Hilton would serve her sentence under house arrest. She was required to wear an ankle bracelet with a tracker for the remaining 40 days. TMZ had earlier stated that Hilton had refused to eat the jail meals served to her.

Ideally, she only remained in jail for five days for what was to have been 45 days of jail time. Despite the judge resisting a house arrest, he later agreed after consultations and concerns regarding her medical condition.