CONRAD HILTON
Born: 25 December 1887
Birthplace: San Antonio, New Mexico Territory (now New Mexico)
Died: 3 January 1979
Best Known As: Founder of Hilton Hotels
Name at birth: Conrad Nicholson Hilton
Conrad Hilton founded the international chain of business hotels which bear his
name. He bought his first hotel in 1919, and founded the first so-named Hilton
Hotel in 1925 in Dallas, Texas. Hilton Hotels grew into the first coast-to-coast
hotel chain, placing a special emphasis on the business traveller, and Hilton
became one of the world's wealthiest men. He also purchased other prestigious
inns, including the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco, New York's
Waldorf-Astoria, and the Palmer House in Chicago. Hilton's son Barron followed
him as head of the company, which by the year 2000 had nearly 500 hotels around
the world. Conrad Hilton died in 1979, leaving the bulk of his estate to his
philanthropic organization, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. He also endowed the
Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of
Houston. His 1957 autobiography was titled Be My Guest.
Hilton had three sons by his first wife, Mary Barron: Conrad, Jr.; William
Barron; and Eric Michael... He had a daughter, Francesca, with his second wife,
the actress Zsa Zsa Gabor (married 1942-47)... Hilton's son Conrad Jr. ("Nicky")
was the first husband of actress Elizabeth Taylor; the couple were married from
1950-51... Hilton is the great-grandfather of party girls Paris and Nicky
Hilton.
Born: 25 December 1887
Birthplace: San Antonio, New Mexico Territory (now New Mexico)
Died: 3 January 1979
Best Known As: Founder of Hilton Hotels
Name at birth: Conrad Nicholson Hilton
Conrad Hilton founded the international chain of business hotels which bear his
name. He bought his first hotel in 1919, and founded the first so-named Hilton
Hotel in 1925 in Dallas, Texas. Hilton Hotels grew into the first coast-to-coast
hotel chain, placing a special emphasis on the business traveller, and Hilton
became one of the world's wealthiest men. He also purchased other prestigious
inns, including the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco, New York's
Waldorf-Astoria, and the Palmer House in Chicago. Hilton's son Barron followed
him as head of the company, which by the year 2000 had nearly 500 hotels around
the world. Conrad Hilton died in 1979, leaving the bulk of his estate to his
philanthropic organization, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. He also endowed the
Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of
Houston. His 1957 autobiography was titled Be My Guest.
Hilton had three sons by his first wife, Mary Barron: Conrad, Jr.; William
Barron; and Eric Michael... He had a daughter, Francesca, with his second wife,
the actress Zsa Zsa Gabor (married 1942-47)... Hilton's son Conrad Jr. ("Nicky")
was the first husband of actress Elizabeth Taylor; the couple were married from
1950-51... Hilton is the great-grandfather of party girls Paris and Nicky
Hilton.