THE GOLDEN TOUCH

It Girl turned entrepreneur extraordinaire Paris Hilton talks to Us about thriving in business and at home

- ISLEY ZEGAS

Since the early 2000s, Paris Hilton has had her finger on the pulse. From her culture-shifting reality show, The Simple Life, which premiered 20 years ago, to her cheeky fashion lines (have you seen her velour tracksuit collection?), foray into DJing and early experiments in the metaverse, Hilton says, “I’ve always been forward-thinking... and not afraid to take risks.”

It’s paid off: Over the last two decades, the multihyphenate’s proved to be a savvy entrepreneur who’s built a major business empire. “It’s about staying true to myself,” Hilton, 42, tells Us of her instincts for what’s next. “And having a bit of luck always helps!” Most recently, Hilton launched 11:11 Media, a multiplatform global entertainment company focused on producing fashion and lifestyle content across film, TV, music, books, consumer products and more. “It’s about telling stories that matter and uplifting voices that need to be heard,” says Hilton, who the company’s president and COO, Bruce Gersh, calls “the heartbeat” of 11:11 Media.

As a new mom — she welcomed son Phoenix with husband Carter Reum, 42, in January — and a fierce advocate, based on her own experiences, for reform of so-called troubled teen institutions, Hilton believes her future is bright. “[I’m] using my platform and what I’ve built for good,” she says. “I want to look back and see a legacy of positivity, change and empowerment.”

Did you ever imagine you’d become a media mogul?