Hugh Hefner, founder of the world famous 'Playboy' magazine, dies at 91

The modern day Casanova, the founder of one of the most recognized magazines of the world 'Playboy', Hugh Hefner died on Wednesday, September 27. He was 91.

"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. He was 91 years old," Playboy Enterprises, Inc. said in a statement Wednesday night.

American Icon and Playboy Founder, Hugh M. Hefner passed away today. He was 91. #RIPHef pic.twitter.com/tCLa2iNXa4

— Playboy (@Playboy) September 28, 2017

Hefner founded Playboy in 1953 with $600 of his own money and the magazine has now turned into a multimillion-dollar entertainment business. He also started a string of Playboy Clubs whose cocktail waitresses wore bunny ears and cottontails.

Hefner initially served in the army. While working in the publishing industry he got the idea for Playboy.

Hefner up his furniture as collateral for a loan and borrowed the rest from family and friends. He published the very first issue of Playboy in December of 1953, which featured a nude Marilyn Monroe.

The same year, Hefner launched media and lifestyle company Playboy Enterprises, Inc., on which he served as a board member until the time of his death.

Hefner has accepted to bedding scores of young women and also married a few of his magazine’s ‘Playmates’. Some of them were younger than his children.

Hefner is survived by his wife Crystal and four grown children: Christie, who served as CEO of Playboy Enterprise for more than 20 years; David, Marston and Cooper, the latter who currently serves as Chief Creative Officer at the company.

• Hugh Hefner
• Playboy
• dies at 91