Paris Hilton's Empire Earns Jaw-dropping $1.3 Billion: Other Celebs Able to Bank a Billion

Recession schmession. Economic downturns are, like, so not hot.

Paris Hilton is not just famous for being famous anymore. The reality star and heiress turned business mogul has virtually written the book on how to turn celebrity into financial success.

The celebutante dropped a bombshell when opening up about her business ventures in this month's issue of FHM, saying "I'm involved in my products every step of the way. They've produced more than $1.3 billion in revenue since 2005."

You heard that correctly. That's billion, with a B.

The 30-year-old socialite turned businesswoman is perhaps best known for popularizing the small dog as a fashion accessory, coining the phrase "that's hot," and turning the celebrity sex tape into a vehicle to stardom. However, her business empire spreads well beyond her pin-up girl and reality TV-star past.

"I have 35 stores and 17 product lines. And then there's my racing team, my 14 fragrances and my new project, the Paris Hilton Beach Club chain. The first one is opening in the Philippines soon. It's going to have nightclubs, restaurants, bars, gyms. Everything really," she reports.

However, Paris Hilton isn't the only star to convert their celebrity into a billion dollars in sales.

Jessica Simpson

She may think that buffalo wings are made from buffaloes and that "Chicken of the Sea" is made from real chicken, but Jessica Simpson does know a thing or two about the fashion industry. The pop singer and TV personality has built Jessica Simpson, the brand, into big business. Her ready-to-wear clothing collection and shoe line were expected to surpass $1 billion in sales last year.

Bethenny Frankel

Bravo's TV darling and "Real Housewife of New York City" raised a few eyebrows in 2011 when she sold her two-year-old line of Skinnygirl cocktails for a reported $120 million. While the ready-to-drink, low-calorie cocktails were the fastest growing spirits brand worldwide last year, booze is just part of the Skinnygirl picture. Frankel also launched the Skinnygirl Face & Body Solutions and Skinnygirl Mommy lines at 4200 Walmarts last year, and signed a hyper-lucrative book deal with Touchstone Fireside for three more titles in her growing Skinnygirl library.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen may not dominate Disney programming like they did a decade ago, but the "Full House" twins have stitched together a fashion empire. Their clothing lines The Row, Elizabeth & James, Olsenboye, and StyleMint generate a billion dollars in sales annually.

Kim Kardashian

Keeping up with the Kardashians' product lines is almost a full-time job. There's Khlo and Lamar Odom's Unbreakable unisex fragrance, Kim's three perfumes, K-Dash for QVC clothing line, Kim's new Belle Noel jewelry collection, a handbag line, and the Kardashian Kollection at Sears just for starters. All told, the Kardashian clan's enterprises are expected to generate a billion dollars in sales in 2011-2012.

But don't tell Paris about her former BFF's success. Hilton walked out of an interview on "Good Morning America" shortly after being asked if Kim Kardashian was overshadowing her success.

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