Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy Enterprises, revolutionized the adult entertainment industry with the introduction of Playboy magazine. From its first issue featuring Marilyn Monroe in 1953, the magazine enjoyed instant success, catapulting Hefner and his publication to widespread popularity. Before his venture into the adult industry, Hefner had a career as a journalist for Esquire and served in World War II. Born into a conservative family in Chicago, he studied psychology, creative writing, and art in college. Hefner epitomized the lifestyle promoted by his magazine and had a string of glamorous girlfriends. However, his life was not solely focused on sex; he was also a well-known political activist and philanthropist, contributing generously to various causes.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Hugh Marston Hefner
- Died At Age: 91
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Barbi Benton, Brande Roderick, Crystal Harris, Holly Madison, Kimberley Conrad, Millie Williams, Tina Marie Jordan
- Father: Glenn Lucius Hefner
- Mother: Grace Caroline Hefner
- Siblings: Keith Hefner
- Children: Christie Hefner, Cooper Hefner, David Hefner, Marston Hefner
- Born Country: United States
- Quotes By Hugh Hefner
- Publishers
- Height: 5’9″ (175 cm), 5’9″ Males
- Died on: September 27, 2017
- Place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States
- City: Chicago, Illinois
- Ancestry: Swedish American, German American, British American
- Notable Alumni: School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
- Cause of Death: Sepsis
- U.S. State: Illinois
- Founder/Co-Founder: Playboy Enterprises, Playboy Club
- More Facts
- Education: University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, Northwestern University, School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago
Childhood & Early Life
Hugh Hefner was born on April 9, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, to Grace and Glenn Hefner as the elder of their two sons. His parents, both teachers, were strict Methodists with deep Midwestern roots. He attended Sayre Elementary School and then Steinmetz High School in Chicago. During high school, he developed an early interest in journalism and founded a school newspaper. He also served as president of the student council, where he championed student causes. After graduating from high school, he served in the U.S. Army for two years and wrote for a military newspaper. He then studied at the Chicago Art Institute before enrolling at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, where he graduated in 1949 with a B.A. in psychology with a double minor in creative writing and art.
Career
After graduating from college, Hefner worked as an assistant personnel manager for the Chicago Carton Company and as an advertising copywriter for the Carson Pirie Scott department store. He then landed a job as a promotion copywriter with the magazine ‘Esquire’. However, he left the job in 1952 after being denied a raise. Determined to start his own publication, he mortgaged his furniture and generated funds from investors to launch the magazine ‘Playboy’ in December 1953. The first issue featured a nude image of Marilyn Monroe and sold over 50,000 copies. ‘Playboy’ became a huge success, selling over a million copies a month by the end of the decade. Hefner expanded his business by purchasing the Playboy Mansion and opening the first Playboy Club. He also wrote editorials promoting what he called “The Playboy Philosophy” and questioned Puritan repression in American heritage. ‘Playboy’ became the largest-selling men’s magazine in the world.
Philanthropic Works
In addition to his successful career in publishing, Hefner was actively involved in philanthropic causes. He helped organize fund-raising efforts for the restoration of the Hollywood Sign in 1978 and personally contributed $27,000. He made a donation of $100,000 to the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and $2 million to endow a chair for the study of American film. Hefner was also an animal lover and organized fundraiser events for Much Love Animal Rescue and Generation Rescue. He donated $900,000 to a conservation group to stop the development of the Hollywood Sign in 2010.
Awards & Achievements
Hugh Hefner was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the American Society of Magazine Editors in 1998. He was also presented with the Henry Johnson Fisher Award, the highest honor of the Magazine Publishers of America, in 2002. In 2010, he received the Children of the Night’s first-ever Founder’s Hero of the Heart Award for his dedication, commitment, and generosity.
Personal Life & Legacy
Hefner was married three times. His first marriage was to Mildred Williams in 1949, and they had two children together. They divorced in 1959. He married Playmate of the Year Kimberley Conrad in 1989 and had two sons with her. They separated in 1998 and divorced in 2010. Hefner married model Crystal Harris in 2012. He had numerous other relationships with women, many of whom were models for ‘Playboy’. Hefner died of natural causes at his home, the Playboy Mansion, on September 27, 2017.