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Hugh Hefner

Hugh Marston Hefner was an American magazine publisher and businessman best known as the founder and editor-in-chief of *Playboy* magazine.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Hugh Marston Hefner (April 9, 1926 – September 27, 2017) was an American magazine publisher and businessman. He was best known as the founder and editor-in-chief of *Playboy* magazine. Hefner became a prominent cultural figure through the magazine, its interviews, brand expansion, and his public association with the Playboy Mansion lifestyle.

Early life and career

Hefner was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1926. He later worked in publishing before launching *Playboy* in 1953. The magazine became his defining business and cultural project.

Playboy and media influence

As founder and editor-in-chief, Hefner built *Playboy* into a major magazine known for photographs, fiction, interviews, and a lifestyle brand. The publication and its related ventures made him a widely recognized media figure.

Playboy Mansion

Hefner lived for years in the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, which became a symbol of his personal brand and hosted highly publicized parties and media attention.

Later life and death

Hefner remained a public figure into old age and died on September 27, 2017, at age 91 in Los Angeles. Reports attribute his death to natural causes.

Key facts

  • Founded *Playboy* magazine in 1953.
  • Expanded the *Playboy* brand into clubs and other media.
  • Became a public symbol of the sexual revolution and American pop culture.
  • Died on September 27, 2017, in Los Angeles, California.
  • He was married three times.
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Canadian context

Hugh Hefner had major influence on North American popular culture and magazine publishing, including readership and media attention in Canada through the international reach of *Playboy* and its cultural footprint.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Hugh Hefner?
Hugh Hefner was an American magazine publisher and businessman, best known as the founder and editor-in-chief of *Playboy* magazine.
How old was Hugh Hefner when he died?
He was 91 years old when he died on September 27, 2017.
What happened to Hugh Hefner?
Hugh Hefner died at his home in Los Angeles in 2017; reports described his death as due to natural causes.
What was Hugh Hefner's net worth?
Public estimates of his net worth varied, and a commonly cited figure in later biographical summaries is more than $43 million, though exact net worth is not consistently documented in the provided sources.
Who were Hugh Hefner's wives?
Hefner was married to Mildred Williams, Kimberley Conrad, and Crystal Hefner.
What was the Playboy Mansion?
The Playboy Mansion was Hefner's famous Los Angeles residence, closely associated with *Playboy* events, parties, and his public image.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Hefner
    Supports: Birth and death dates, role as founder/editor-in-chief of Playboy, association with Playboy Mansion.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hugh-Hefner
    Supports: Biographical overview, founding of Playboy in 1953, birth and death details.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005005/
    Supports: Marriages to Mildred Williams, Kimberley Conrad, and Crystal Hefner; death information.
  4. CNN — https://www.cnn.com/us/hugh-hefner-fast-facts
    Supports: Age at death, death date, Playboy Mansion association, marriage timeline.
  5. People — https://people.com/tag/hugh-hefner/
    Supports: Public profile as Playboy founder and association with The Girls Next Door and the Playboy Mansion.
  6. Hugh M. Hefner Foundation — https://www.hmhfoundation.org/about-hugh-m-hefner/
    Supports: Biographical statement identifying him as Playboy founder and editor-in-chief.