SO CRIME DOES PAY, PARIS
By LORENA MONGELLI and KEITH KELLY
June 22, 2007 -- Paris Hilton will be paid an amazing $1.3 million to talk about her time in jail - an absurdly lucrative deal that sparked blue-collar outrage across the city yesterday.
NBC will give her $1 million to talk about her time in the pokey, and she'll get another $300,000 for her first print interview and pictures as a sprung cell-ebutard.
The heirhead hotel princess is set to stroll out of a Los Angeles lockup as early as this weekend and then hit the jackpot with a blockbuster exclusive interview with the "Today" show's Meredith Vieira, sources said.
The "Today" windfall alone will mean $43,578 a day for her three-plus weeks staring at the four walls of the Century Regional Detention Center in Lynwood, Calif., and the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown L.A.
The Post has learned that the cunning con also inked a deal to sell her first photos to Getty Images,. They will run in People magazine, along with the first print interview, next Friday.
The Getty deal is worth a staggering $300,000, sources said.
People managing editor Larry Hackett acknowledged that there was a "photography deal" with Getty Images, but declined to disclose the price.
"It's a fascinating story and we're thrilled to have it," said Hackett, who declined to discuss terms. Hackett said the appearance with Vieira will only whet the appetite for the People story.
New Yorkers making a modest living said yesterday they were disgusted by Hilton's wheeling and dealing.
"It's obscene! If you or I would commit a crime, no one would pay us any extra money!" fumed Queens taxi driver Marc Preven, who struggles to clear $35,000 a year. "It's not something we would be proud of."
Medical receptionist Elizabeth Colazo, 27, said there's only one way she'll ever make $1 million in her lifetime: "If I win the lottery tomorrow."
"Her getting $1 million? I think that's ridiculous," said Colazo, a resident of Fresh Meadows who makes about $38,000 a year.
"It happens a lot with celebrities. Whenever they get in trouble, they get paid to tell their story."
The Post first reported details of Hilton's deal with NBC yesterday.
Hilton, 26, was locked up for driving with a suspended license, which a judge ruled was a violation of probation following an arrest last year for drinking and driving.
The ditzy blonde was sentenced to 45 days in jail, but could end up doing 23 days with good behavior.
Hilton called L.A. radio host Ryan Seacrest yesterday and said she's "grateful" for her luxurious life on the outside.
"I'm so much more grateful for everything that I have, even just to have a pillow at night or food," Hilton told Seacrest. "You know my gratitude has gone up so much, and I just realize that the media used me to make fun of [me] and be mean about it."
Hilton said she wants to hug her parents, something she can't do during their visits to jail.
"I am behind glass and I want to give my dad a big hug and they won't even let me do that," she said. "That's how the rules are: You have to be behind glass . . . I'm not a criminal, I'm not dangerous, so it makes me feel like that."
Paris was all set to grant her first post-pokey chat to ABC's celebrity chit-chat queen Barbara Walters, sources have said.
But that deal was squelched when NBC boss Jeff Zucker personally intervened and called Paris' dad, Rick Hilton, The Post has learned.
Walters is "incandescent with rage," a source close to her said.
Other industry insiders slammed NBC for even considering paying for a sitdown chat.
"Its unacceptable to pay for an interview. I think it's just bull- - -t beginning and end of story," sniffed one highly placed industry source.
Additional reporting by Marianne Garvey in Lynwood, Calif., and Chuck Bennett, Paula Froelich and David K. Li in New York
lorena.mongelli@nypost.com
Crime really pays for Paris Hilton
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