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

Of course, everyone is very familiar with the legendary magazine, which at one time became a real breakthrough in glossy journalism, called "Playboy." The founder of this edition, Hugh Hefner, is considered to be none other than the legislator of world erotica. He has many imitators in all corners of the earth, but to this day no one has ever managed to create something new in this genre that would have been as successful as Playboy. No one can unravel the riddle of the popularity of this unique person's professional activity.

Childhood and youth of Hugh Hefner

The founder of Playboy was born on April 29, 1926 in the city of Chicago, located in Illinois, USA. All his early years passed in the most usual way, therefore, this period of life has no 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 his attention due to the fact that the founder of Playboy in his youth was well built and had a well-built figure of an athlete.

After leaving school in Chicago, young Hugh Hefner is sent to carry his service in the army. At that time, the world was going through a period of World War II, so he had to go to Europe and even take part in active hostilities taking place in the cities of France and Germany.

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

Family of the legendary playboy

Hugh Marston Hefner was born in the most ordinary American family. His parents, the mother of Geis Caroline Sounson and Glenn Lucius Hefner's father, were very strict and conservative people. None of the members of the family had the right even to go to the cinemas, not to mention something more. On Sundays the entire family attended the church service.

Despite such upbringing, the founder of Playboy (his biography to this direct proof) had completely different principles and views on life. He later said that the creation of the magazine was his reaction and an internal protest against such puritanical upbringing.

The beginning of a successful career

The profession of journalist Hugh Hefner was predicted from the school's bench. The student, although not very diligent and assiduously at the lessons, but wrote articles and did drawings for the school newspaper with pleasure.

The first thoughts about creating this type of magazine visited Hugh in his student years. Under the influence of crazy parties creeping in ideas about the publication of a glossy breakthrough with the name "Playboy". The founder knew that in the future he was going to take a serious step in this matter, but at first it was necessary to work as an ordinary journalist for the experience. So began the career of Hugh Hefner.

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

The path to professional growth and stellar 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 worth $ 8,000, 600 yen. I earned it myself, but I borrowed 1000 from my mother.

When the necessary amount of money was collected, Hefner was initially going to release a publication called Stag Party, which translates as "Bachelor Party", but subsequently abandoned this idea. Then followed a long and painstaking work to create a new brand with the already well-known name - "Playboy". The founder believed in his own strength, and after a while this undertaking brought its first fruits.

The long-awaited and successful first issue

In December 1953, at last, this important event took place, which turned Hugh Hefner's whole life further. In all the newspaper kiosks in America, the first issues of the magazine appeared. On his main cover there was still the little-known actress Marilyn Monroe, which became his main highlight. The first edition was 70,000 copies, which were almost immediately sold out. Even Hefner himself did not expect such a dizzying success.

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

How did the corporation develop further?

In subsequent years, everything was just perfect. Initially, the magazine was popular only with the male audience, but after some time many famous models began sending erotic photos themselves and asking for the cover of Playboy to raise their own rating.

Not only beautiful and sexy girls on the covers attracted readers. There were also interesting articles on various topics that were interesting to intelligent and thinking men.

In the meantime, the corporation was gaining momentum, accordingly, Hugh's income also multiplied. In 1971, Playboy Enterprises already counted in its assets numerous hotels, casinos, clubs and resorts. She had her own television studio, model agencies and recording studios.

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

Interesting facts about the personal life of Hugh Hefner

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

In 1989 Hefner married for the second time - on the model of Kimberly Conrad, with whom he also lived for ten years. Since 2000, he cohabited with seven girls at the same time, who were between the ages of 18 and 28.

At the age of 87, the legendary ladies' man decides to marry a third time. For the role of wife was chosen model Crystal Haris.

At times, the founder of Playboy is shocked by his strange and outrageous behavior: a photo in pajamas or a dressing-gown, when he is in public, sexy parties and loud novels - all this constantly, already for many years has attracted the attention of many people to his person.