01of 13Idyllic ChildhoodCourtesy Playboy Enterprises"I had a happy childhood," Hugh Hefner once said (left, with mother Grace, younger brother Keith and father Glenn in 1934). At just 27, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of launching his own men’s magazine.Playboy’s inaugural issue featured never-before-seen nude photos of Marilyn Monroe; the magazine was an instant success. Three marriages, four children and many younger girlfriends would follow, but Hefner never strayed from a commitment to the brand he started. The magazine eventually stopped running nude photos; still, Hefner insisted, “Playboyis a fantasy life for a lot of people. Including me.”
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Idyllic Childhood
Courtesy Playboy Enterprises
“I had a happy childhood,” Hugh Hefner once said (left, with mother Grace, younger brother Keith and father Glenn in 1934). At just 27, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of launching his own men’s magazine.Playboy’s inaugural issue featured never-before-seen nude photos of Marilyn Monroe; the magazine was an instant success. Three marriages, four children and many younger girlfriends would follow, but Hefner never strayed from a commitment to the brand he started. The magazine eventually stopped running nude photos; still, Hefner insisted, “Playboyis a fantasy life for a lot of people. Including me.”
02of 13Betting on a DreamPlayboyHis hard work paid off. Hefner was aware there was a market for a men’s magazine, and scraped together $8,000 from family and friends to publish the first issue ofPlayboywith Marilyn Monroe on the cover in December 1953. It was a hit and sold over 50,000 copies.
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Betting on a Dream
Playboy
His hard work paid off. Hefner was aware there was a market for a men’s magazine, and scraped together $8,000 from family and friends to publish the first issue ofPlayboywith Marilyn Monroe on the cover in December 1953. It was a hit and sold over 50,000 copies.
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Creating an Empire
04of 13Playboy’s BunniesCourtesy Playboy Enterprises"The magazine was about breaking barriers," Hefner said, pictured with his Playboy Club bunnies circa 1960. “It wasn’t just a sexual thing.”
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Playboy’s Bunnies
“The magazine was about breaking barriers,” Hefner said, pictured with his Playboy Club bunnies circa 1960. “It wasn’t just a sexual thing.”
05of 13Dual LivesCourtesy Playboy EnterprisesAs he worked tirelessly to launchPlayboy, Hefner (here in 1953) confessed he was “an absent dad” to children Christie, now 63, and David, now 60 (with first wife Millie).
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Dual Lives
As he worked tirelessly to launchPlayboy, Hefner (here in 1953) confessed he was “an absent dad” to children Christie, now 63, and David, now 60 (with first wife Millie).
06of 13Domestic LifeCourtesy Playboy EnterprisesHefner married model Kimberley Conrad at age 63 (she was 26). “I was ready to be a dad again,” Hefner said of their sons Cooper and Marston (pictured in 1993).
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Domestic Life
Hefner married model Kimberley Conrad at age 63 (she was 26). “I was ready to be a dad again,” Hefner said of their sons Cooper and Marston (pictured in 1993).
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Life’s a Party
08of 13Boys' Night OutCourtesy Playboy Enterprises"They both love women," the media mogul said of former Mansion fixtures Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson (pictured in 1986).
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Boys' Night Out
“They both love women,” the media mogul said of former Mansion fixtures Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson (pictured in 1986).
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Continued Success
Getty
10of 13Happily WedCourtesy Playboy Enterprises"Crystal is one in a million," Hefner said of his then-31-year-old wife (pictured on their 2012 wedding day). “I don’t think about the age difference. We’re very happy.”
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Happily Wed
“Crystal is one in a million,” Hefner said of his then-31-year-old wife (pictured on their 2012 wedding day). “I don’t think about the age difference. We’re very happy.”
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Cooper (left) and Hugh Hefner in 2013.Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Cooper Hefner was named Chief Creative Officer of the magazine in 2016, and addressed his father’s health in August 2017. “It’s tough to watch him struggle,” Cooper said in an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter.“But I’m just happy it’s physical and not mental.”
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End of an Era
Hugh Hefner.RICH SCHMITT/AFP/Getty
13of 13Work Hard, Play HardDavid Gabber/PR Photos"I was always a dreamer," Hefner told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview in 2016 before his 90th birthday. “And I did everything I could to make that dream come true.”
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Work Hard, Play Hard
David Gabber/PR Photos
“I was always a dreamer,” Hefner told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview in 2016 before his 90th birthday. “And I did everything I could to make that dream come true.”
source: people.com
