Born in New York, Hilton is the eldest of the four children of Richard and Kathy Hilton (née Avanzino). She has a sister, Nicky, and brothers, Barron and Conrad. On her mother's side of her family, she is the niece of two child stars of the 1970s, Kim Richards and Kyle Richards. Hilton was related by marriage to Nicole Richie's godmother, Nancy Davis, when Nancy's brother, Greg, was married to Kim Richards. Hilton's paternal grandparents are hotel president Barron Hilton and his wife, the former Marilyn Hawley; Barron Hilton's parents were Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton and his first wife, Mary Barron. Hilton moved between several exclusive homes in her youth, including a suite at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, Beverly Hills and the Hamptons. She attended her freshman year of high school at Marywood-Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage, California, then attended the Dwight School in New York for her sophomore and junior years. She then transferred to the Canterbury School, in New Milford, Connecticut, where she was a member of the hockey team. However, in early 1999, she was expelled for violating school rules.[3] Hilton later earned her GED. In December 2007, Hilton's grandfather, Barron Hilton, pledged 97 percent of his estate to a charity founded by his father, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. An immediate pledge of $1.2 billion was made, with an additional $1.1 billion due after his death. He cited his father's actions as motivation for his commitment. According to reports, her grandchildren's potential inheritance is greatly diminished.[6][7]Hilton has worked as a model, actress, musician, and has occasionally engaged in business activities.[8] According to Forbes magazine, she earned approximately $2 million in 2003–2004,[9] $6.5 million in 2004–2005,[10] and $7 million in 2005–2006.[11] As a model, Hilton began modeling as a child, initially at charity events.[12] At the age of 19, she signed with Donald Trump's modeling agency, T Management.[12] Hilton has also worked with Ford Models in New York, Models 1 Agency in London, Nous Model Management in Los Angeles and Premier Model Management in London. She has appeared in numerous advertising campaigns, including Iceberg Vodka, GUESS, Tommy Hilfiger, Christian Dior and Marciano. In 2001, Hilton began to develop a reputation as a socialite, being identified as "New York's leading It Girl" whose fame was beginning to "spread beyond the New York tabloids". She has appeared in several magazines, including the April 2004 issue of Maxim.[13]As an actress