Nicole Richie

Sept. 21, 1981: Nicole Camilla Escovedo is born in Berkeley, CA to percussionist Peter Escovedo III, (brother of Sheila E) and an unidentified woman who was an assistant on Lionel Richie's 1980 World Tour.

1990: Escovedo surrenders his paternal rights over Nicole (who is 9 years old) and she is adopted by Lionel Richie and his wife.

Late 1990s: Nicole attends the University of Arizona but drops out after two years: "I went to the University of Arizona. I stopped because I went there for two years and I felt like I experienced college or whatever. I'm over it. I like Hollywood better."

Feb. 2003: Nicole is arrested in Malibu, CA on charges of heroin possession.

Fall 2003: The Simple Life premieres, co-starring Richie's best friend, Paris Hilton.

Dec. 2003: She speaks out in defense of her godfather, Michael Jackson, who is accused of child molestation.

Sept. 12, 2004: Plays herself in an episode of Six Feet Under.

Sept. 21, 2004: Nicole becomes engaged to boyfriend, Adam Goldstein.

Feb. 2005: Nicole plays the piano in her musical debut on ABC's The View.

April 20, 2005: Paris Hilton releases the following statement: "It's no big secret that Nicole and I are no longer friends. Nicole knows what she did, and that's all I'm ever going to say about it."

July 2005: Nicky Hilton tells Maxim magazine that Nicole and Paris will be friends again one day: "I don't get involved. Paris is my sister, and Nicole's like a sister to me. They'll be friends again - and they still love each other."

Aug. 17, 2005: Richie pays a visit to Malibu, California's "Camp Heartland," a camp for children infected with HIV/AIDS or children who have lost loved ones to the disease. Richie says: "It was such an amazing experience. Camp is important. It's a place for the kids to forget their problems and enjoy being young."

Sept. 9, 2005: Drug charges stemming from Richie's 2003 heroin bust are dismissed after she completes the terms of her probation.