Paris Hilton’s husband is Carter Reum, a venture capitalist, author, and entrepreneur who co-founded the brand M13 and the liquor label VEEV Spirits before marrying Hilton in November 2021. His professional background spans early-stage technology investing, brand incubation, and corporate advisory roles within the global startup ecosystem.
The public fascination surrounding Paris Hilton’s personal life naturally extends to her marriage with Carter Reum. While Hilton has spent decades building an empire rooted in reality television, fashion, licensing, and global DJing, Reum operates primarily behind the scenes in the worlds of venture capital, corporate finance, and business development. Understanding his career trajectory, the companies he has founded or backed, and his estimated net worth requires a look into the venture capital landscape, media enterprises, and entrepreneurial ventures that define his professional identity.
The Professional Background and Early Career of Carter Reum
Carter Reum’s career did not begin in high-profile entertainment circles, though his family background provided early exposure to corporate leadership. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he is the son of Robert Reum, the former chairman, president, and CEO of Amsted Industries, a major industrial manufacturing conglomerate. Growing up in an environment steeped in corporate strategy and large-scale manufacturing gave Reum a foundational understanding of business operations from an early age.
Reum pursued higher education at Columbia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2003. Following his graduation, he entered the financial sector by taking a position as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs in New York City. During his tenure at Goldman Sachs, Reum gained extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets underwriting, and corporate finance. This foundational period allowed him to develop the analytical skills required to evaluate corporate balance sheets, assess market risks, and structure complex financial transactions—skills that would later form the bedrock of his career as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist.
After leaving investment banking, Reum transitioned from traditional financial advising to operational entrepreneurship. This shift marked his entry into the consumer packaged goods and early-stage startup sectors, where he and his brother, Courtney Reum, began identifying gaps in consumer markets. Their early partnership set the stage for a dual career path characterized by founding consumer brands and investing in disruptive technology companies.
Entrepreneurial Ventures: VEEV Spirits and Beyond
Long before marrying into global pop culture royalty, Carter Reum made his mark as an entrepreneur by co-founding VEEV Spirits alongside his brother Courtney in 2007. VEEV was launched as an eco-friendly, handcrafted spirit made from organic wheat and infused with acai berries. At a time when the spirits industry was heavily dominated by traditional grain alcohols and heavy additives, VEEV positioned itself as an innovative, sustainable alternative in the premium liquor category.
The launch of VEEV required navigating complex regulatory frameworks, distribution networks, and marketing challenges inherent to the highly competitive alcohol beverage industry. The Reum brothers focused on sustainable production methods, utilizing a carbon-neutral distillery in Idaho and securing placement in high-end bars, nightclubs, and national retail chains. VEEV gained traction within the lifestyle and hospitality sectors, eventually capturing the attention of larger industry players.
In 2016, VEEV Spirits achieved a significant corporate milestone when it was acquired by Luxco, a major American alcoholic beverage producer and distributor. The acquisition provided the Reum brothers with substantial liquidity and validated their ability to build, scale, and successfully exit a consumer brand. Following the sale of VEEV, Carter Reum expanded his entrepreneurial portfolio into publishing and media, co-authoring the 2018 book Shortcut Your Startup: Speed Up Success with Proven Lessons from the World's Best Entrepreneurs. The book shares tactical strategies for startup founders, drawing from the Reums' firsthand experiences navigating the pitfalls of early-stage business growth.
Venture Capital and Investment Philosophy: M13
The most significant driver of Carter Reum’s professional profile and long-term financial growth is M13, a venture capital firm and brand studio that he co-founded with his brother Courtney in 2016. Named after Messier 13, one of the largest and brightest star clusters in the Milky Way, the firm focuses on investing in early-stage technology and consumer products companies.
M13 operates on the thesis that early-stage startups require more than just financial capital; they need operational guidance, brand strategy, and access to a robust network of talent and strategic partners. The firm targets businesses operating across several key sectors, including digital health, consumer tech, web3 infrastructure, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) commerce.
| Company / Portfolio Focus | Investment Stage | Key Industry Sectors |
|---|---|---|
| M13 Venture Fund | Seed and Series A | Consumer Tech, D2C Commerce, Digital Health |
| VEEV Spirits | Founded and Exited | Alcoholic Beverages, Sustainable Consumer Goods |
| Applied Companies | Advisory and Family Office | Industrial Manufacturing, Corporate Governance |
Through M13, Reum has positioned himself as a prolific venture capitalist, backing numerous high-growth companies that have achieved unicorn status or successful public offerings. Notable portfolio investments associated with M13 and the Reum brothers' early investment vehicle, M. Brand, include consumer brands and technology platforms such as:
- Sweetgreen: The fast-casual restaurant chain focused on locally sourced, healthy food, which went public in 2021.
- SpaceX: The aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded by Elon Musk.
- Pinterest: The visual discovery and social media platform.
- Rothy’s: The sustainable footwear and accessories brand known for utilizing recycled plastic water bottles.
- Lyft: The ridesharing and transportation network.
By securing early equity positions in these market leaders, M13 built a diversified portfolio that insulated the fund against individual sector downturns while capturing the exponential upside of the technology boom of the late 2010s and early 2020s.
Estimated Net Worth and Financial Portfolio
Assessing the net worth of private venture capitalists and entrepreneurs involves analyzing multiple revenue streams, private equity holdings, and historical exits. While exact, real-time figures are rarely published in official regulatory filings unless tied to publicly traded entities, financial analysts and wealth publications estimate Carter Reum’s net worth to be between $40 million and $100 million.
This wealth accumulation stems from several distinct sources:
- The Sale of VEEV Spirits: The multimillion-dollar acquisition of VEEV by Luxco in 2016 provided a major liquidity event for the co-founders.
- M13 Management Fees and Carried Interest: As a co-founder of a prominent venture capital firm, Reum earns management fees and a percentage of investment profits (known as carried interest) from successful fund exits.
- Early-Stage Portfolio Equity: Equity stakes in companies like SpaceX, Pinterest, and Sweetgreen gained substantial value as those enterprises scaled over the decades.
- Real Estate Assets: Reum holds significant real estate investments, including residential properties in major luxury markets such as Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.
When combined with Paris Hilton—whose personal net worth is estimated to exceed $300 million through her global licensing empire, fragrance lines, and media ventures—the couple commands a formidable combined financial portfolio. However, Reum’s wealth is structurally independent of his marriage, grounded firmly in corporate finance, venture capital returns, and consumer goods exits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carter Reum’s primary profession?
Carter Reum is a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and author. He is best known as the co-founder of M13, an early-stage venture capital firm and brand studio, and as the co-founder of VEEV Spirits, a sustainable liquor brand acquired by Luxco in 2016.
How did Carter Reum make his money?
He accumulated his wealth through a combination of his early career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, the successful entrepreneurial exit of VEEV Spirits, management fees and carried interest from venture capital investments through M13, and early equity stakes in major technology and consumer companies like SpaceX and Sweetgreen.
When did Paris Hilton and Carter Reum get married?
Paris Hilton and Carter Reum married in November 2021 during a multi-day wedding celebration in Los Angeles, California. They had been friends for over a decade before beginning a romantic relationship in late 2019.
What companies has M13 invested in?
M13 has invested in numerous prominent consumer and technology companies, including Sweetgreen, Rothy’s, Lyft, Pinterest, and SpaceX. The firm focuses primarily on seed and Series A funding rounds across consumer tech, digital health, and D2C commerce.
Does Carter Reum have any books published?
Yes, Carter Reum co-authored the book Shortcut Your Startup: Speed Up Success with Proven Lessons from the World's Best Entrepreneurs with his brother Courtney Reum, published by HarperCollins in 2018.
Conclusion and Next Actions
Carter Reum’s professional trajectory illustrates a calculated evolution from traditional investment banking to independent entrepreneurship and institutional venture capital. Through the founding of VEEV Spirits and the establishment of M13, he carved out a distinct career identity centered on scaling consumer brands and backing high-growth technology startups. For those looking to follow a similar career path in venture capital or startup founding, studying the operational models of early-stage investment firms, understanding consumer packaged goods (CPG) exit strategies, and examining the portfolio strategies of firms like M13 provide valuable frameworks for navigating the modern entrepreneurial landscape.
