Nicole Richie Biography

Nicole was born in Berkeley, California, on September 21, 1981. Her father is Peter Michael Escovedo, a member of Lionel Richie's band and brother to '80s pop percussionist Sheila E. But at her age of 3, due to some financial reasons, she moved in with her father's bandmate Lionel and his then-wife Brenda Harvey-Richie. Then they officially adopted Nicole six years later.

Nicole's formative years were spent at Los Angeles' Buckley School, where she met Paris Hilton. But money is also often synonymous with the fast lane, and as a teenager she began partying hard and experimenting with drugs and alcohol. She enrolled in the University of Arizona in 2000 following her high school graduation. Nicole dropped out college after two years.

But Nicole like Hollywood better than the college. Nicole decided to become a musician after leaving school, She founded the rock band Darling with model Josie Maran and socialite sisters Soleil and Sofia Alberti. In February 2003, the police pulled her over in Malibu, as it was discovered that she was driving with a suspended license. Nicole was immediately arrested upon searching her Mercedes-Benz, police found heroin in the car. She later plead guilty to all charges. Then she was sentenced to probation and ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation program.

Nicole Richie was first signed on to 'The Simple Life' as a co-star for Paris Hilton's sister - Nicky, who was approached by FOX executives, but wasn't interested in participating. The show aired in December of 2003 and was successful enough to justify a sequel series, which aired the following summer as 'The Simple Life - 2' and 'The Simple Life - 3'.

Nicole earned publicity and the fame from 'The Simple Life', allowed Nicole to branch out. So she made appearances on such shows as Eve (starring rapper Eve), MADtv and Punk'd, Rock Me Baby. She was cast alongside Julie Bowen in Kids In America, and Nicole is still working on breaking into the music industry.

Nicole is currently living in Los Angeles and is engaged to Adam Goldstein (also known as DJ AM) on her birthday in 2004, but the engagement was not made public until February 2005.