Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner dies

Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner dies



Playboy founder Hugh Hefner has died, aged 91.

The iconic American magazine confirmed his death tweeting a picture of the businessman alongside a quote “life is too short to be living somebody else’s dream”.

According to a statement from Playboy Enterprises, Hefner died of natural causes at his home in the Playboy Mansion.

He famously only wore pyjamas at the Playboy Mansion, usually a black-lined red velour smoking jacket and a pair of silk PJs, teamed with black slippers.



So iconic was the look that it inspired dress-up costumes.

Hefner was born on April 9, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, to teacher parents Grace Caroline and Glenn Lucius Hefner.



He worked as a copywriter for Esquire magazine but left in 1952 after they failed to give him a raise. In December of the following year he launched Playboy magazine, using money raised from 45 investors and a bank loan.

The first issue featured a nude image of Marilyn Monroe from her 1949 calendar shoot - it sold a staggering 50,000 copies.

After graduating high school in 1944, Hefner joined the army where he worked as an infantry clerk and cartoonist for numerous army papers. Following his discharge in 1946, he enrolled in the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign where he completed his Bachelor degree in just two and a half years.



Perth girl Bridget Malcolm has hung up her angel wings to pose for Playboy

In his last posts to social media, Hefner encouraged his followers to donate to the One America Appeal to support hurricane victims of Harvey and Irma.

"My thoughts are with everyone affected by Hurricanes Harvey & Irma, both the victims and the first responders," he wrote.



. In times of such great adversity, it is inspiring to know we can put our differences aside and join together to help those in need...