Conrad Hilton, the man who built the famous Hilton hotel empire, made an unusual decision about his wealth before his death in 1979.
Instead of leaving most of his fortune to his family, he gave the bulk of his estate to charity through the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, leaving much smaller amounts for some of his relatives.
According to The Wealth Advisor, Hilton left just $10,000 each to his nieces and nephews. Hilton died on Jan. 3, 1979, at the age of 91. He had spent much of his life building one of the world’s best-known hotel businesses.
But his legacy was not limited to hotels. Through the foundation he established in 1944, he also created a lasting source of support for people facing poverty and other hardships.
Born on Dec. 25, 1887, in New Mexico, Conrad Nicholson Hilton started with humble beginnings. Before becoming a hotel businessman, he worked in his father’s general store and served as a representative in New Mexico’s first state legislature, per the Hilton Foundation’s website.
Conrad Hilton, Sr. (1887 – 1979), founder of the Hilton hotel chain, posed for a portrait.Photo by Bachrach/Getty Images
He also served in the United States Army during World War I.
After the war, Hilton traveled to Texas with plans to buy a bank. However, the deal did not work out. Instead, he purchased the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas, in 1919.
The hotel had 40 rooms and served many workers who had come to the area during the Texas oil boom. Hilton quickly saw an opportunity in the growing demand for places to stay.
The hotel was busy enough that rooms could be rented to as many as three different guests in one day. This helped him earn money and gave him the chance to grow his business.
Hilton later bought and built more hotels across Texas. These included the Dallas Hilton, which opened in 1925, followed by hotels in Abilene, Waco and El Paso.
His business continued to grow beyond Texas. He eventually expanded into other parts of the United States and overseas, helping create the world’s first international hotel chain.
In 1946, he formed Hilton Hotels Corporation. Two years later, he established Hilton International Company, which helped expand the business into more countries.
The company also acquired well-known properties, including the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City and the Stevens Hotel in Chicago, which was later renamed the Conrad Hilton.
Despite facing major financial problems during the Great Depression, Hilton managed to rebuild his business. His work helped turn the Hilton name into a major part of the global hospitality industry.
In 1966, his son Barron Hilton succeeded him as president of Hilton Hotels, while Conrad remained chairman of the board.
Hilton’s interest in charity started long before he became one of America’s most successful hotel owners.
In 1944, he established the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to support people experiencing hardship. His goal was to use his wealth to help others and reduce human suffering around the world.
When Hilton died in 1979, he left nearly all his wealth to the foundation, ensuring that his charitable work would continue after his death.
His estate also included smaller inheritances for members of his family. His son Barron Hilton later challenged his father’s will. The dispute ended in a settlement that gave Barron four million shares of the hotel company. The foundation received 3.5 million shares, while six million shares were placed in a charitable remainder unitrust.
The foundation continued to grow over the following years, becoming an important source of funding for humanitarian programs.
According to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, it has awarded more than $4 billion in grants since its establishment, supporting efforts to address major challenges around the world.
Its work includes helping vulnerable communities, supporting people experiencing poverty, and building partnerships with organizations working to improve lives.
Conrad Hilton’s decision also influenced his son Barron. In 2007, Barron announced that he would leave approximately 97% of his fortune to the same foundation, following the charitable example set by his father.
When Barron died in 2019, his gift helped increase the foundation’s endowment to more than $6 billion.
Related: Oprah Winfrey personally gave $10 million for Houston’s Angel Lane in 2005; 65 homes and a community center followed
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