The broker, David Hans Schmidt of Phoenix, Arizona, told Reuters he was seeking million for material he claims includes 18 personal diaries recounting sexual escapades and risqué photos of Hilton.

Schmidt said the items were sold for ,775 last November by the owner of a storage facility where they had been kept. The items also include computers, clothes and furniture.

A spokesman for Hilton, Elliot Mintz, said the items "may have been illegally seized," but said he was not sure exactly how they found their way to Schmidt.

"The possibility that many people would be reading her journal is really disquieting," Mintz told Reuters. "She’s feeling a combination of anger, certainly confusion, and just tremendous sadness."

Mintz said he had not seen the items and could not confirm what they were, but Hilton’s attorneys have approached Schmidt about getting the items back.

It was unclear exactly how the items were taken from the Los Angeles-area storage locker Hilton had maintained. Mintz said monthly invoices were sent to Hilton’s accountants and paid. But he added that a third party, whose name he did not disclose, was involved in the transaction.