A Complete Timeline Of Paris Hilton And Kim Kardashian's Friendship

Friendships between celebrities often capture the public's imagination, especially when they involve two of the most recognizable names in pop culture: Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. Their bond began long before the reality TV cameras started rolling, and it has evolved through numerous ups and downs, making it a fascinating journey to follow. From their childhood days to their current status as media moguls, Hilton and Kardashian's relationship showcases the intricacies of friendship in the spotlight.

Paris Hilton, the hotel heiress who shot to fame in the early 2000s, has often been viewed as a pioneer of reality TV culture. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian, who initially gained fame as a friend and stylist to Hilton, has transformed herself into a powerhouse entrepreneur and influencer. Their friendship may have weathered storms, but it has also flourished, demonstrating resilience and deep connections.

As we dive into the complete timeline of their friendship, we will explore the milestones, challenges, and triumphs that have defined their relationship. You'll witness how they navigated fame, personal challenges, and their growth as individuals and friends in the public eye.

Table of Contents

• Biography
• Their Friendship Goes Way Back
• Kardashian's Closet Organizing Business
• Shared Experiences of Sex Tape Leaks
• The Strategy Behind Going Out
• Impact of Hilton's Jail Sentence
• Body Image Controversies
• The Silent Era
• Origins of the Selfie
• Reunion and Reconciliation
• Work Ethic and Empowerment
• Hilton's Music Video Featuring Kardashian
• Recognition of Each Other's Contributions
• Current State of Their Friendship

Biography

Their Friendship Goes Way Back

When we say that Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton go way back, we mean way back. The pair first met in preschool, a detail that Kim Kardashian later pointed out. "Paris and I have been friends since we were kids," she said, according to Today, so their decades-long friendship started when they were small.

Both girls grew up in Los Angeles and had childhoods that were sheltered and uneventful. Hilton admitted this to CBS when she spoke about her move to New York as a teenager. "Moving to New York at 15, I was very young and very sheltered from living in Los Angeles," Hilton explained. "I had never been to a party or a club before."

Kardashian grew up in Beverly Hills with mother Kris Jenner and lawyer father Robert Kardashian. Their home was obviously a deeply significant place for the whole family because, in October 2020, Kardashian rented their childhood home as a gift for her mom, according to The Sun. Those early years were precious to her.

Kardashian's Closet Organizing Business

While they knew each other as kids, Kim Kardashian's relationship with Paris Hilton was first publicly documented on Hilton's reality show, "The Simple Life." The show followed Hilton and friend Nicole Richie as they lived without the luxuries of their Beverly Hills homes. This was the world that first met Kardashian and gave her the chance to try out reality TV.

Kardashian was often working in Hilton's closet on "The Simple Life" and over the years, people dubbed her as Hilton's personal assistant in the early days. However, Kardashian clarified what her role was in an interview with Recode in 2014. "I was not her assistant, but I had an eBay closet organizing company and she was one of my clients," Kardashian explained. This was obviously right up Kardashian's alley.

Interestingly, sister Khloe Kardashian followed a similar path. On the podcast "Emergency Contact" in October 2020, Khloe said: "I was Nicole Richie's assistant." Khloe added, "I went to school with her. She was one of my best friends growing up, and we were really, really close." These early jobs led to big things for both Kardashian sisters.

Shared Experiences of Sex Tape Leaks

Of all the things to have in common, Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton both know what it’s like to have sex tapes leaked. Tragically, the experience was violating for both women, and both were raked over the coals for them in the media.

Hilton's ex, Rick Salomon, leaked their tape in 2004 after recording the tape in 2001, according to Page Six. Hilton spoke about the harrowing experience on Vanity Fair's podcast, "Inside the Hive." She said, "That will always be something that will hurt me for the rest of my life." She went on, "People were so mean about it to me. The way that I was spoken about on nightly talk shows and in the media ... to see things with my family was just heartbreaking."

Kardashian's sex tape with Ray J leaked in 2007, and she had to address the backlash from it, including accusations that she used it to make money or to get famous. "I never made a business off of the tape," Kardashian told Harper's Bazaar in 2011. "I made a business off my family and our TV show. Before the tape came out, we were in the works to do our TV show, but people don't know that." Both women faced tabloid vitriol for something neither wanted exposed.

The Strategy Behind Going Out

Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton's friendship reached a new level in 2006, when the two women were photographed going out. Hilton knew the game thanks to her teenage years in New York City with her sister, Nicky Hilton. "We started this phenomenon and created a new celebrity genre," Hilton told CBS in 2018.

Kardashian understood that there was a strategy to getting publicity. "We'd go anywhere and everywhere just to be seen," Kardashian said to Rolling Stone of her friendship with Hilton. "We knew exactly where to go, where to be seen, how to have something written about you."

The two became famous before the rise of social media but knew how to manage stardom. "When you look at someone like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, you have people who understand the game of paparazzi," media strategist Sheeraz Hasan told ABC. But the partying was also a blast. "We had so much fun," Kardashian told Harper's Bazaar. "I think I learned a lot from her."

Impact of Hilton's Jail Sentence

Things took a rocky turn for Paris Hilton beginning in September 2006. She was arrested after leaving In-N-Out Burger "on suspicion of DUI" and was sentenced to three years' probation. In February 2007, Hilton was pulled over for speeding, and it became apparent that she was "driving with a suspended license," resulting in a 45-day jail sentence.

In response to the news, Kim Kardashian offered her support. "Of course, you have to support people that you love," she said. However, their friendship cooled at this point. In her post-jail interview with Larry King on CNN, Hilton cryptically said, "I've gotten rid of a lot of people ... they know who they are."

During this period, Kardashian's sex tape got leaked, and while it seemed like a chance for guidance from Hilton, they had no communication. "Our friendship had fizzled before that," Kardashian noted.

Body Image Controversies

While Kardashian and Hilton were on the outs, Kardashian found herself in the spotlight with the premiere of "Keeping Up With the Kardash