Hefner was worth $50 million at the time of his death (Picture: Getty)

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner has died peacefully at this home.

The 91-year-old had declining health in the last year and has not been seen in public for some time.

A rep for Playboy Enterprises told People: ‘Hugh M. Hefner, the American icon who in 1953 introduced the world to Playboy magazine and built the company into one of the most recognizable American global brands in history, peacefully passed away today from natural causes at his home, The Playboy Mansion, surrounded by loved ones.’

Hefner was an icon who founded the famous magazine in 1953 with Marilyn Monroe as the cover star.


Cindy Crawford, Pamela Anderson, Madonna and Sharon Stone are just some of a host of stars to feature on the cover.

Hugh Hefner’s ‘Star’ from the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Picture: Getty)

How much was Hefner’s empire worth? Here are all the details.



How much was Hefner worth at the time of his death?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, founder of Playboy magazine who had a net worth of $50 million (£37m) at the time of his death.

According to paperwork filed in 2009 as part of a divorce, Hugh Hefner estimated his own net worth to be $43 million (£32m).

At the time of his death, Hefner owned 35% of the Playboy brand and 100% of the actual magazine.

What was the value of Hefner at the peak of Playboy?

At the peak of Playboy, Hefner’s net worth was over $200 million (£150m).

However, the company did not perform well over the last 10-15 years because of increased competition and magazine sales have diminished rapidly across the board.

Playboy’s decline

In the period between 2000 and 2010, Playboy’s stock price fell 80%.

In 2011, Hefner wanted to take Playboy off the stock market. A leveraged buyout with Hefner by Icon Acquisition Holdings and Rizvi Traverse left Hefner with around a third of the company with the rest going to private equity firm Rizvi Traverse.

According to the 2011 contract, Hefner still made around $1 million (£750,000) per year and remained in control of all editorial and creative content for the magazine.

The Playboy Mansion was bought in June 2016 for $110 million (Picture: Getty)

How much was the famous Playboy mansion worth?

Interestingly, most people assume Hugh himself actually owns the famous Playboy mansion, but in fact he does not and never did.

Playboy Enterprises owned the house and Hefner paid an annual fee to cover rent and other expenses like food and parties.

It was acquired in 1971 by Playboy Enterprises for about $1.1 million (£820,000).

The mansion was sold in June 2016 for $110 million (£82m) to Daren Metropoulos, the head of investment firm Metropoulos & Co.

Hefner's finances in a court filing back in 2009 Monthly income: Salary from Playboy: $116,667 (£87,000)

Social Security: $1,896 (£1,400)

Dividends and interest: $121,099 (£90,000)

Rental property: $17,058 (£12,500)

Income from HMH Productions: $15,808 (£12,000)

Pensions and retirement: $413 (£310)

Other miscellaneous income: $17,639 (£13,000) Total monthly income: $290,580 (£220,000) which makes $3,486,960-a-year (£2.6m) Other Assets: $306,548 (£230,000) in cash.

$36,802,558 (£27.5m) in stocks and bonds.

$6,122,990 (£4.6m) in a joint account with an unnamed person Total assets (including Playboy stock and property): $43,232,096 (£32m) And here’s how Hugh spends his money each month: Rent (including groceries, household supplies, utilities, cell phone and email): $53,593

Food (approximate): $18,000

Entertainment: $25,000

College expenses for kids: $10,130

Health care: $3,215



With these numbers though, Hefner’s wealth is believed to have shrunk since then so the exact number at the time of his death is unknown. That said, the estimates of his wealth at the time of his death place have been reported at $50m (£37m), higher than the 2009 filings.

MORE: Hugh Hefner: Viagra-popping poster boy for sexual freedom, who hated red lipstick and liberated the world

MORE: Inside Hugh Hefner’s colourful love life – from Playmates to marrying a 26-year-old