nicole camille richie (born september 21, 1981) is an american socialite, actress, and author she is the adopted daughter of lionel richie, and is best known for being in the reality show "the simple life". during late 2007 nicole richie faced charges of drunk driving and risked a jail sentence similar to paris hilton, her co-star and friend in "the simple life". she has had two children with joel madden: harlow and sparrow madden. on february 15, 2010, she announced that she was engaged with madden. they got married later in 2010.