Conrad Hilton

Date of Birth: December 25, 1887

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: January 3, 1979

Biography

Conrad Nicholson Hilton was an American businessman who founded the Hilton Hotels chain. Born into a large family in New Mexico Territory, he was the son of a Norwegian immigrant father and a German-American mother. Hilton initially pursued various business ventures, including banking and politics, before venturing into the hotel industry. He purchased his first hotel, the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas, in 1919. Hilton’s business acumen and vision rapidly expanded his hotel enterprise, and he went on to establish a chain of hotels known for luxury and service. Under his leadership, Hilton Hotels became one of the most recognized names in the hospitality industry, with properties in key cities across the United States and eventually around the world. Conrad Hilton was not only a pioneer in the hotel business but also a philanthropist, contributing to various charitable causes, particularly those aligned with his Roman Catholic faith.

5 Interesting Facts about Conrad Hilton

1. Conrad Hilton was the great-grandfather of socialite Paris Hilton.

2. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I.

3. The first hotel he bought, the Mobley Hotel, was so successful that it had to operate around the clock to accommodate all the guests.

4. Hilton Hotels was the first international hotel chain, establishing its first overseas property in 1949 in Puerto Rico.

5. Conrad Hilton was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1975.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Conrad Hilton

1. “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”

2. “Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”

3. “It has been, and continues to be, our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.”

4. “To accomplish big things, I am convinced you must first dream big dreams.”

5. “Enthusiasm is a vital element toward the individual success of every man or woman.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Conrad Hilton’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 billion.

Children

Conrad Hilton had three children with his first wife, Mary Adelaide Barron: Conrad Nicholson Hilton Jr., William Barron Hilton, and Eric Michael Hilton. He also had a daughter, Francesca Hilton, with his second wife, Zsa Zsa Gabor.