Kathy Hilton Net Worth

What Is Kathy Hilton's Net Worth?

Kathy Hilton is an American actress, fashion designer, and philanthropist who has a net worth of $350 million. That is a combined net worth with her husband, Rick Hilton. They've been married since 1979. Rick and Kathy Hilton are probably best known for being the parents of Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton.

Kathy is a member of the extended Richards-Hilton family that has long been connected to Hollywood, reality television, and Los Angeles society. Before her later fame on Bravo, Hilton worked as a child actress and appeared on shows such as "Nanny and the Professor," "Bewitched," "Family Affair," "Happy Days," and "The Rockford Files." She later moved into business, fashion, and entertainment-adjacent ventures, building a public identity rooted in style, society, family, and philanthropy. Hilton's profile rose again in the 2000s through appearances connected to her daughter Paris's fame, and later through "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," where her offbeat humor, old-school Beverly Hills polish, and complicated family dynamics made her a memorable recurring presence. Bravo describes her as an actress, TV personality, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and designer whose influence spans fashion, business, and entertainment

Early Life

Kathy Hilton was born Kathleen Elizabeth Avanzino on March 13, 1959, in New York City. Her parents divorced when she was young, and her mother later married Kenneth E. Richards, making Kathy the half-sister of actresses Kim Richards and Kyle Richards. Through that family connection, Kathy grew up adjacent to the entertainment industry, and all three sisters became familiar faces in Hollywood in different ways.

Kathy began acting as a child, appearing in television shows and small film roles during the late 1960s and 1970s. Her early credits included appearances on "Nanny and the Professor," "Bewitched," "Family Affair," "The Rockford Files," and "Happy Days." Unlike Kim Richards, who pursued acting more extensively as a child star, Kathy eventually stepped away from acting and moved toward family life, business, fashion, and society.

Marriage to Rick Hilton and Family

Kathy married Richard "Rick" Hilton on November 24, 1979. Rick is the grandson of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton and the son of Barron Hilton. The couple became fixtures in Los Angeles society and raised four children together: Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Barron Hilton II, and Conrad Hilton.

For years, Kathy was best known publicly as the matriarch behind one of America's most famous socialite families. Paris Hilton became a defining celebrity of the early 2000s through modeling, nightlife, reality television, fashion, fragrance, and branding. Nicky Hilton built her own career in fashion and design and married into the Rothschild family. Kathy's identity as a mother became a central part of her public image, especially as Paris's fame exploded through "The Simple Life."

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Business, Fashion, and Philanthropy

Beyond her family name, Hilton developed a series of business and fashion ventures. She ran a gift and antiques store called The Staircase on Sunset Plaza in Los Angeles, appeared on home shopping networks, and launched products connected to beauty and style. She later became associated with the Kathy Hilton Collection, a line of party dresses sold through major retailers.

Hilton has also been active in philanthropy, supporting organizations connected to children, health, and family causes. Her social world, fashion interests, and charitable work helped define her as a polished Beverly Hills figure long before reality television reintroduced her to a younger audience.

Television Career

Kathy made occasional appearances on "The Simple Life," the reality series that turned Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie into television stars. In 2005, she hosted the NBC reality competition series "I Want to Be a Hilton," which leaned into her image as a gatekeeper of high society and etiquette.

Her most prominent television role came through "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Although her sisters Kim and Kyle had been central to the show for years, Kathy initially avoided becoming a major part of the series. When she later joined as a "friend of the housewives," she quickly became a fan favorite. Her humor, unusual one-liners, and seemingly effortless detachment from certain aspects of the show's drama gave her a different energy from the full-time cast members.

Kathy's time on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" also brought renewed attention to her relationship with Kyle Richards and the broader history of the Richards sisters. The family's internal tensions became a recurring topic on the show, adding emotional depth to Kathy's otherwise glamorous public image.

(Photo by Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images)

Personal Life

Kathy and her husband, Richard Hilton, live in Bel Air and have four grown children: daughters Paris and Nicky and sons Barron and Conrad. The Hiltons have seven grandchildren: three through their daughter Nicky and her husband James Rothschild, two by Paris, and two by Barron. The couple resides in Bel Air, Los Angeles.

Hilton is known for her philanthropic activities. In 2007, she raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation by asking celebrities to auction their belongings and donate the proceeds to the foundation. In 2011, with her two daughters, she received an award from the Starlight Children's Foundation at its "A Stellar Night" gala in Los Angeles.

Personal Real Estate

In 1999, Rick and Kathy Hilton paid $3.385 million for a 7-bedroom, 3-acre sprawling property in the Hamptons town of Water Mill, New York. Over the years, they have rented this property over the summer seasons for $300,000 – $400,000. In February 2024, they listed their Hamptons mansion for just under $15 million.

In 2014, they paid $2.5 million for an apartment in New York City's Pierre Hotel. In 2015, they paid $9.2 million for a large mansion in Bel-Air. They tore down the existing mansion. In September 2021, they listed this property for sale for $55 million. They finally accepted $25 million in January 2024. The buyer was Zong Qinghou, one of the richest people in China.

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