Hilton and Richie first put their friendship on display in December 2003 when The Simple Life premiered. Their dynamic as friends — as well as the fish out of water image of heiresses being dropped in small towns to do physical labor — gained popularity, and more seasons of their reality show.

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie became household names on "The Simple Life," but their famous families, including Kathy Hilton and Lionel Richie, were hesitant to let them be a part of it.