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Emma Watson gives an impressive performance as Nicki, one member of the Hollywood thieving ring depicted in Sofia Coppola’s latest film, The Bling Ring. But it makes us wonder: What ever happened to Alexis Neiers, the real-life criminal who inspired Watson’s role? And did Paris Hilton ever get her jewels back, by the way? And how many of those kids charged with robbing celebrities actually saw the inside of a prison cell? If you’re as curious as we are to know what’s up with the real-life Bling Ring, here you go.
Rachel Lee
According to pieced-together testimony, Lee (renamed Rebecca in the film and played by Katie Chang) was the mastermind behind the Bling Ring. Her obsession with celebrity — or at least the Lindsay Lohan, reality-TV kind — led her to want to experience first-hand the big-money lifestyle she read about in the pages of US Weekly. Named “Best Dressed” in her 2007 yearbook and driving a white Audi A4 to school, Lee had already been fined and put on probation for shoplifting at a Sephora with fellow Bling Ring member Diana Tamayo. After taking her fair share of jewels and jeans from various celebrities’ homes, she headed to Vegas to live with her father. Both in Coppola’s film and in real life, the authorities eventually caught up with her.
Did she serve time? Yes! After pleading no contest and being sentenced to four years (the harshest punishment among the crew), she served one year and four months.
According to pieced-together testimony, Lee (renamed Rebecca in the film and played by Katie Chang) was the mastermind behind the Bling Ring. Her obsession with celebrity — or at least the Lindsay Lohan, reality-TV kind — led her to want to experience first-hand the big-money lifestyle she read about in the pages of US Weekly. Named “Best Dressed” in her 2007 yearbook and driving a white Audi A4 to school, Lee had already been fined and put on probation for shoplifting at a Sephora with fellow Bling Ring member Diana Tamayo. After taking her fair share of jewels and jeans from various celebrities’ homes, she headed to Vegas to live with her father. Both in Coppola’s film and in real life, the authorities eventually caught up with her.
Did she serve time? Yes! After pleading no contest and being sentenced to four years (the harshest punishment among the crew), she served one year and four months.
Alexis Neiers
The Bling Ring’s most public figure, Alexis Neiers was busy shooting a reality show that would become E!’s Pretty Wild when police stormed her Westlake Village house in search of stolen property. Emma Watson’s impression of Neiers, now 21, is spot-on, as Neiers has graciously left a series of blog posts, YouTube vlogs, and VICE interviews in her wake. Since those days spent tagging along on sorties to rob the houses of various celebrities, Alexis has since given birth to a baby girl with her husband, Evan (whom she met while attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings). And for the record, regarding her famously contested courtroom outfit: “I was certainly not wearing Louboutins. Did I own Louboutins? Yes. Did I walk into court wearing Louboutins? Never. Was I really wearing a little tweed skirt and four-inch BeBe kitten heels? Yes, I was.”
Did she serve time? Not really. Neiers pleaded no contest to felony burglary charges and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, of which she served only 30. She also got three years’ probation and had to pay a fine of $600,000 (to Orlando Bloom!).
The Bling Ring’s most public figure, Alexis Neiers was busy shooting a reality show that would become E!’s Pretty Wild when police stormed her Westlake Village house in search of stolen property. Emma Watson’s impression of Neiers, now 21, is spot-on, as Neiers has graciously left a series of blog posts, YouTube vlogs, and VICE interviews in her wake. Since those days spent tagging along on sorties to rob the houses of various celebrities, Alexis has since given birth to a baby girl with her husband, Evan (whom she met while attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings). And for the record, regarding her famously contested courtroom outfit: “I was certainly not wearing Louboutins. Did I own Louboutins? Yes. Did I walk into court wearing Louboutins? Never. Was I really wearing a little tweed skirt and four-inch BeBe kitten heels? Yes, I was.”
Did she serve time? Not really. Neiers pleaded no contest to felony burglary charges and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, of which she served only 30. She also got three years’ probation and had to pay a fine of $600,000 (to Orlando Bloom!).
