"Playboy". Founder of Playboy: biography, photo, wives

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

Of course, everyone is well aware of the legendary magazine, which at one time became a real breakthrough in glossy journalism, called "Playboy". The founder of this publication, Hugh Hefner, is considered none other than the trendsetter of world erotica. It has many imitators in all corners of the earth, but to this day no one has managed to create something new in this genre that would have the same success as Playboy. No one can unravel the mystery of the popularity of this unique person's professional activities.

Childhood and youth of Hugh Hefner

The founder of Playboy was born on April 29, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. All his early years passed in the most ordinary way, so this period of life does not have any interesting facts. Like all young people of his age, Hugh was fond of sports, girls and cars. But the representatives of the weaker sex did not deprive him of their attention due to the fact that the founder of Playboy in his youth was well built and had a toned figure of an athlete.

After leaving school in Chicago, young Hugh Hefner sets out to carry hisservice in the army. At this time, the world was going through the period of the Second World War, so he had to go to Europe and even take part in active hostilities that took place in the cities of France and Germany.

When the war ended, Hefner returned home and enrolled in university for a course in philosophy and psychology, where he created a comic newspaper with the heading "Student of the Year", which was the first step towards creating such a child as "Playboy". The founder of such a magazine then could not even imagine what success it would bring him.

Family of the legendary playboy

Hugh Marston Hefner was born in the most ordinary American family. His parents, mother Geis Caroline Sounson and father Glenn Lucius Hefner, were people of very strict and conservative views. None of the members of the family even had the right to go to the cinema, let alone anything more. On Sundays, the whole family attended church service.

Despite such upbringing, the founder of Playboy (his biography is a direct proof of this) had completely different principles and outlook on life. Later, he later stated that the creation of the magazine was his reaction and internal protest against such a puritanical upbringing.

The start of a successful career

The profession of a journalist Hugh Hefner was predicted from school. Although the student was not distinguished by diligence and perseverance in the classroom, he wrote articles and made drawings for the school newspaper with pleasure.

Hugh's first thoughts about creating this type of magazine were instudent years. Under the influence of crazy parties, ideas about publishing a glossy breakthrough called Playboy crept in. The founder knew that in the future he would take a serious step in this matter, but at first it was necessary to work as an ordinary journalist for the experience. Thus began the career of Hugh Hefner.

At the very beginning of his professional career, he managed to work in the editorial office of Shaft magazine, where he created various cartoons for several years. Then he was invited to a very large Esquire publishing house, which introduced him closer to all the nuances of glossy journalism and finally convinced him that he could open his own magazine on his own.

The path to professional growth and star life

Hugh Hefner, seriously thinking about his own project, in the early fifties of the twentieth century, begins to raise funds for this. He attracted several investments in the amount of $8,000, $600. i.e. he earned himself, and borrowed 1000 from his mother.

When the required amount of money was raised, Hefner initially intended to release a publication called Stag Party, which translates as "Bachelor's Party", but subsequently abandoned this idea. This was followed by a long and painstaking work on the creation of a new brand with the already well-known name - "Playboy". The founder believed in himself, and after a while this idea bore its first fruits.

A long-awaited and successful first release

In December 1953, this important event finally happened, whichturned the whole future life of Hugh Hefner. The first issues of the magazine appeared on all newsstands in America. On its main cover, the then little-known actress Marilyn Monroe flaunted, which became its main highlight. The first print run was 70,000 copies, which were sold out almost immediately. Even Hefner himself did not expect such a dizzying success.

All the profit that he received from the sales of the first edition, allowed not only to pay off his debts, but also to begin the development of the second issue, which appeared after a while and had no less success. Thus, already in the 50s, the tuxedo rabbit logo became very popular with American readers.

How the corporation developed further

In subsequent years, everything was just perfect. At first, the magazine was popular only among the male audience, but after some time, many famous models began to send erotic photos themselves and ask for Playboy covers to raise their own ratings.

Not only beautiful and sexy girls on the covers attracted readers. It also published interesting articles on a variety of topics that were of interest to smart and thinking men.

Meanwhile, the corporation was gaining momentum, respectively, Hugh's income also increased. In 1971, Playboy Enterprises already had numerous hotels, casinos, clubs and resorts in its assets. She had her own TV studio, modeling agencies and recording studios.

In 1998, whenit was decided to sell the corporation, the profit from its transfer to other hands amounted to more than 300 million dollars.

Interesting facts about Hugh Hefner's personal life

The founder of Playboy and his wives constantly excite and intrigue the attention of the public. His first wife was Mildred Williams, with whom he married in 1949. From their union, which lasted only ten years, daughter Christie and son David appeared. For the next thirty years, Hugh lived as a bachelor.

In 1989, Hefner married a second time - to model Kimberly Conrad, he also lived with her for ten years. Starting in 2000, he cohabited with seven girls at the same time, who were aged between 18 and 28.

At 87, the legendary ladies' man decides to marry for the third time. Model Krystal Haris was chosen for the role of the wife.

Sometimes the founder of Playboy shocks the public with his strange and outrageous behavior: photos in pajamas or a bathrobe when he is in public, sexy parties and high-profile novels - all this constantly, for many years, has attracted the attention of many people to his persona.