The Prime Minister is the man responsible for bringing Playboy magazine to Australia nearly 40 years ago.

In the wake of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's death, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has recalled a trip he made to the United States to negotiate with the empire.

The young lawyer was on a mission to obtain the Australian rights to the adult magazine for his client Kerry Packer.

"I did that deal in 1978," he told Channel 10.

"I went over there, I hate to say it, but it was nearly 40 years ago, to negotiate with Hugh Hefner's daughter Christie."

But Mr Turnbull said he never stepped foot inside the famous Playboy mansion, although "it would have been great" to.

"I negotiated it in their office building in Chicago," he said.

Mr Turnbull had several careers before entering politics, including as a lawyer, banker, businessman and journalist.