Barron Hilton is bringing his family’s namesake brokerage, Hilton Hilton, to Palm Beach, The Real Deal has learned.
The fourth generation scion of the Hilton dynasty is chasing his manifest destiny from Rodeo Drive to Worth Avenue, according to sources and business records. Barron and his wife, Tessa Hilton, registered the Florida entity Hilton Hilton Palm Beach in September. Barron Hilton is also in the process of getting licensed in Florida, according to state records. Barron and Tessa Hilton are co-CEOs and his father, Rick Hilton, is chairman of the Beverly Hills-based brokerage.
It’s unclear if Hilton Hilton has already leased an office. Barron Hilton did not respond to requests for comment. Palm Beach would represent the brokerage’s second office after Beverly Hills, and first on the East Coast.
With this expansion, the Hiltons join a wave of brokerages and agents seeking to plant their flag on the tony island. The pandemic supercharged Palm Beach’s market, and the momentum has sustained, even as other luxury real estate hubs have faltered. Palm Beach has become an epicenter for trophy deals over $50 million, and this year has seen not one, but two, sales over $100 million.
Success in the Palm Beach brokerage business is all about luring top agents, brokers say. The majority of deals on the island are made behind closed doors among a small circle of top agents, and few brokers are able to rise to their ranks.
Joining the Hiltons in their Sunshine State endeavors is David Fite, a local agent with C-suite experience. Fite was chief financial officer of Corcoran Group from 2003 to 2006, then held the same position at Douglas Elliman from 2006 to 2008. He moved to South Florida and launched his own brokerage in Palm Beach in 2008, and merged it with William Raveis Real Estate in 2018.
Fite declined to comment regarding Hilton Hilton.
Compass agent Chris Deitz said the Hiltons also approached him to join the firm. “As of right now, I’m staying at Compass,” said Deitz, who was complimentary of the Hilton Hilton team and brand. “The boutique, small-type firm with good agents is going to do really well.”
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As part of the expansion, Barron and Tessa Hilton are moving to Palm Beach, sources told TRD. Tessa Hilton is the daughter of German Count Franz Walderdorff, and is also known as Countess Tessa von Walderdorff. The couple married in 2018 and have three children together.
Rick Hilton is the grandson of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton, and the father of celebrity socialites Paris and Nicky Hilton. He co-founded the residential brokerage Hilton & Hyland with his late business partner Jeff Hyland, who died in 2022. Hyland’s widow, Lori Hyland, bought Rick out of the business that year, and Rick, Barron and Tessa Hilton launched Hilton Hilton months later. The firm opened in Beverly Hills earlier this year.