Anyone who has been in show business for at least five years can be nominated for a star. Once accepted, someone (the person who nominated or the star, whoever...) has to pay a fee (not sure how much, but certainly more than $10,000 or so) and then you get a star.They are all bought and paid for, and not by the entity that actually bestows the stars. It's really only ever been about publicity, not an award of any kind. That's why loads of people have stars and only a few have Oscars, Emmys, or Grammys.
I'm such a slut for the blues.