FACTBOX: Life and Times of Paris Hilton

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Heiress Paris Hilton was let out of prison on Thursday to spend the rest of her sentence for violating probation confined to her home, the Los Angeles sheriff said.

Here is a snapshot of the socialite's life:

* Paris Whitney Hilton, whose great-grandfather, Conrad, started the global Hilton Hotel empire, was born in New York on February 17, 1981.

* She gained international fame in 2003 when a home video - made when she was 19 - of her having sex with a boyfriend was posted on Internet.

* Hilton used the publicity, coupled with a popular reality television show called "The Simple Life," to build a multimillion-dollar celebrity juggernaut. The show debuted in December 2003 and featured Hilton and Nicole Richie, daughter of singer Lionel Richie.

* Hilton has published a 178-page book, "Confessions of an Heiress," in 2004. Hilton has also been an increasing presence on-screen in TV commercials, and in the movies, including "Zoolander" (2001), "Wonderland" (2003). She had a more substantial role in the horror film "House of Wax" (2005).

* Turning to music, Hilton released her debut album, "Paris," through Warner Bros. Records in August 2006, landing at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 pop chart with 77,000 copies sold its first week. The lead single, "Stars are Blind," became a modest hit, peaking at No. 18 on the singles chart.

* Hilton, charged in September 2006 with drunken driving, was caught in February driving with a suspended license. A judge sentenced her in May to 45 days in jail, later cut to 23 days.

Sources; Reuters/www.who2.com/International Movie Database.

Reuters/Nielsen