Born on September 21, 1981, Riche grew up best friends with Hilton. While the latter opted out of college upon graduating high school, Richie at least gave it a shot. She spent two years at the University of Arizona, but soon dropped out because she felt that she was “over it”. Since that time, Richie did little career-wise but made a reputation for herself partying with Hilton. Richie did attempt to make a name for herself, if only as second fiddle to the more outgoing and controversial Hilton. The Fox reality show was her first step, though she did nothing more than set-up Hilton’s comic relief. In one instance, she had to explain to a perplexed Hilton what Wal-Mart was; in another, she had to explain what a water well found in their bedroom was for.

In the meantime, Richie went into the recording studio to record her first album, though she has insisted the attempt wasn’t meant to capitalize on her growing fame from the television show. Able to play piano, violin and cello, Richie felt it was inevitable for her to lay down her talents in the studio, but has ruled out any collaboration with her famous father. Richie also auditioned for the part of Maureen in the popular Broadway hit, “Rent”, though she later confessed she had never seen the play. Richie did manage to rack up some TV acting roles, including guest stints on "Six Feet Under," "American Dreams," "8 Simple Rules..." and "Eve," but it was "The Simple Life" that kept her in the spotlight as the show retruned for a second and third season, featuring the wacky, wealthy gal pals on a cross country road trip and working as interns.