From political connections to an obsession with scrapbooks, here's 11 things you didn't know about the founder of Playboy
ADVERTISEMENTFollowing the death of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, aged 91, here are 11 things you didn’t know about the world’s most famous adult magazine magnate.
1. Religious upbringing
Hefner was born in Chicago on April 9, 1926, to two teachers with strong religious views. He described his upbringing as “conservative” and “Methodist”. His mother once said that she was proud of him, but would have been just as happy if he was a missionary to which he responded, “But Mum, I was!”
2. Destined for success
Hefner was popular in school and was voted by his classmates as one of the students most likely to succeed.
3. Copywriter to publisher
Before Playboy, Hefner worked as a copywriter for Esquire magazine. However, he quit after his request for a $5 raise was rejected.
4. Borrowed beginnings
In 1953, Hefner borrowed $8,000 to produce the first issue of Playboy, including $1,000 from his mother. He produced the magazine, featuring an old set of nude photographs of Marilyn Monroe, from his kitchen. It sold more than 50,000 copies.
5. A change in name
Playboy was originally going to be called Stag Party, but Hefner changed his mind at the last minute. “Can you imagine a chain of clubs staffed by girls wearing antlers?” he later asked.
6. Political connections
Hefner is the 9th cousin, twice removed, of former US president George W. Bush, and the 9th cousin, once removed, of Senator John Kerry.
7. Multiple marriages
Hefner was married three times, and has four children from his first two marriages. He married his third wife, former Playmate Crystal Harris, in 2012. At 86, he was 60 years older than his bride.
8. Sexual partners
Hefner reportedly slept with over 2,000 women. The magazine magnate insisted he had always been faithful during his marriages but “made up for it” when he was single.
9. Animal lover
Hefner’s infamous Playboy Mansion had a zoo license, housing an array of exotic animals alongside the playmates.
10. Scrapbook fanatic
Hefner had over 18,000 scrapbooks chronicling every detail of decades of his life. The scrapbooks included photographs of every person who had ever visited the Playboy Mansion and been in the Playboy magazine.
11. Star burial
Hefner owns the burial plot next to Marilyn Monroe. He reportedly bought the crypt at LA’s Westwood Village cemetery in 1992 for $75,000.