Barron Hilton

William Barron Hilton I[1] (born October 23, 1927) is an American heir and hotelier, co-chairman of the Hilton Hotel chain and owner of the San Diego Chargers and paternal grandfather of Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton.

Biography

He was born in Dallas, Texas, the second son of Conrad Nicholson Hilton and Mary Adelaide Barron. His father founded Hilton Hotels. His brothers are Erik Hilton, and the late Conrad Nicholson Hilton, Jr., called "Nicky", who was actress Elizabeth Taylor's first husband (1950). He also has a younger half-sister (b. 1947), Francesca Hilton, whose mother is Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Barron was active for several years in organizing and managing businesses in Los Angeles, and was also a member of the board of directors of the Statler Hotels Deljjaware Corporation and of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

In 1954, he was elected a vice-president of Hilton Hotels Corporation, of which his father was president. The announcement was made on November 16, 1954, by P. Williford, Executive Vice President.

Barron also became president of the Carte Blanche credit card firm, was owner of a $6,000,000 orange juice company, head of a business leasing jets and an investor in a Texas oil company.

In 1960, Barron founded the Los Angeles Chargers team of the new American Football League. He moved his team to San Diego for the 1961 season. The team played in the first two American Football League championships, losing both to the Houston Oilers.

Barron Hilton assumed the presidency of the Hilton Hotel chain in 1966. In 1970, he was responsible for getting Hilton Hotels into the gambling business.

When Barron's father died in 1979, he left the bulk of his estate to the Roman Catholic Church and other charities, and almost nothing to his children. Barron contested the will because of his lifelong career of working to build the hotel company and won his lawsuit in 1988. His half-sister, Francesca, lost her case and received nothing.

In the Forbes 400, which lists the 400 richest Americans, Barron Hilton's worth in 2007 is listed at $2.3 billion.[1]