Young Hollywood

Young Hollywood: Too Much, Too Soon?

Access Hollywood

"So rich. So famous. So fabulous. So young.

While most teens and twentysomethings are dealing with final exams and acne breakouts, for young stars in Hollywood, it's a whole other universe.

But with seven-figure paychecks, extreme career pressure and the relentless pursuit of the paparazzi, can it be too much too soon?

"I think it's scary because you're young and you don't really know how to manage certain things that you're doing yet," admits 18-year-old Hollywood starlet Lindsay Lohan.

Whether it's Lindsay, Justin, Paris, Hilary, Beyonce, Usher, Ashton, the Olsens or Britney, the names go on and on, ringing out like bells on a cash register – each one a brand name of sorts n astounding accumulation of unprecedented riches. Combined, these stars are worth well over a billion dollars.

Laura Morgan, entertainment director for Teen People magazine, knows these faces all too well. Her mag, along with Us Weekly, Blender, In Style and many others, feed at the trough of young Hollywood and their endless ability to sell thousands of magazines.

"There's so many actors out there, it's such a crowded field that whether you're older or younger it's like winning the lotto if you make it," Morgan told Access Hollywood. "Young stars are everywhere right now and they're getting paid so much money a picture...there's just more and more demand for them."

So much demand, in fact, that whatever they do, wherever they go, it's front-page fodder -- from Mary-Kate's eating disorder to Paris' sexcapades to Britney's marriages. But as they say, where there's smoke, there's fire -- and these kids are absolutely on fire.

"Ashton [Kutcher] right now is definitely one of the hottest celebrities out there among Teen People readers," Morgan revealed.

Kutcher earns a reported six to eight million bucks a year for his work on "That '70s Show" and he's also got a burgeoning movie career, a hit show on MTV and a piece of Hollywood hot spot Dolce.

Former boy-bander-turned-blossoming actor Justin Timberlake, 23, reportedly made $24.7 million last year. Meanwhile, at 25, Usher's "Confessions" has gone platinum nine times over.

But the boys aren't the ones having all the fun.

Twenty three-year-old Beyonce cashed in $23 million in earnings over the last year, earning herself a spot of Forbes' 2004 celebrity list. And 17-year-old Hilary Duff is making bank off of her music, movies and fashion.

However, all of this pales in comparison to the empire created by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

"They're both only 18 and they're both rich enough to appear on the list on their own," said Elizabeth Fenner, assistant managing editor of Fortune magazine.

At 31 on Fortune's list of richest 40 Americans under 40, the 18-year-old twins cruise around on private jets, own a $4 million home and run a company valued at $1 billion.

Nevertheless, these girls work hard for their money. Just ask their publicist, Michael Pagnotta.

"People get large salaries because they've earned them. Nobody gives you anything," Pagnotta told us. "The Mary-Kate and Ashley brand didn't just spring up to existence with a billion dollars in retail, it took a lot of work, it took a lot of people and it took a lot of thought."

Of course, no list of powerful young starlets would be complete without mentioning Britney Spears, who at just 22, has a net worth of about $123 million, thanks to over 55 million CDs sold, sold out concert tours and her endorsement deals.

All of which gives Britney license to indulge every whim.

"There is a certain pop star who prefers our mocha ice blendeds and she has been known to hire a private jet to fly them into her while she's on tour," said Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's Ellen Belot about Britney.

Ah, the pleasures of the young and rich. Just ask Paris Hilton, who spares no expense for herself or her pets.

"What's the most outrageous thing you've bought your Chihuahua?" Access' Tony Potts asked the hotel heiress.

"Tinkerbell has a Louis Vitton carrying case, a Christian Dior one and a diamond necklace," Paris admitted. "She's very spoiled."

While the dog might dress better than most of us, remember, her owner does stand to inherit $28 million and has built an entire industry based on her notorious party girl reputation.

While no desire is left unfulfilled, can the stars of young Hollywood handle fame and fortune without falling off of the star map?

"A lot of teen idols do tend to fade away. The ones who will remain on top are the ones who are really talented and don't just take anything that's thrown at them," Teen People's Laura Morgan continued.

And if that holds true, then reigning teen queen Lindsay Lohan has a legit shot at longevity, with talent and looks to spare.

Lindsay has got an album on the way, plus a sizzling movie career that netted her a $7.5 million payday for one of her upcoming films, which hopefully, also provides the right attitude for the long haul.

"I have great people working with me and supporting me and people aren't afraid around me to tell me, 'You can't do this' or 'You shouldn't do that'...and I'm not an idiot either. I'm very aware of what I do and I make my own decisions with the people around me," Lohan says."

*whewf* [img]graemlins/faint.gif[/img]

Thanks!! :D

[Sk8er gurl]

thanks [img]graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

thanks, why is everyone uh... stereo type, thinking hilary is going to be like lohan or britney and think she is going to do photoshoots in bra and bikinis, come on people she isnt like that!!!!