Hugh Marston Hefner (born April 9th, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, USA) was the founder of Playboy magazine and became its leading archetype -- the sexually open and financially well-off swinger, the "man's man". The idea of Playboy sprung from Hugh while he was in college. The original name for the magazine was tossed around a lot with "Stag" being one idea. Hugh decided to give his "baby" the name he "knew he was himself". He reportedly has an IQ of 150, and he has certainly been very adept at human management skills. He is also a charismatic and highly persuasive individual.
Hefner has been married twice. His 1959 breakup of his first marriage to Millie Williams, whom he married in 1949, is believed linked to his commencing his Playboy empire. His daughter Christie, born in 1954, is from this marriage. Christie joined her father's editorial staff, and now holds the title of Chairman of Playboy. But Hugh still is the only one allowed to pick his playmates.
He later married Playmate Kimberley Conrad in 1988. Conrad later became Playmate of the Year in 1989. This marriage broke up in 1998. Two sons were issue of this marriage -- Marston, born 1990 and Cooper, born 1991. During this period, Hefner lived monogamously.
He has famously had a long line of other female mistresses, including several Playboy Playmates of the Year. These have included Marilyn Cole (PMOY 1971), Lilian Muller (1976), Patty MacGuire (1977) , Terry Welles (1981) and Brande Roderick (2001). The lattermost lived openly with three other women, including two twin sisters. Other noteworthy mistresses who were not Playmates of the Year included Barbi Benton (1968-74); ex-Sunday School teacher Sandra Theodore (1974-81) and Carrie Leigh (1982-86). The lattermost liaision ended with an attempted palimony lawsuit by Leigh against Hefner, which failed. There have been no illegitimate issue from any of these women.
Hefner, now 77, currently lives with seven blondes, whose ages range from 18 to 28. He told Vanity Fair magazine "And here's the surprise bit -- it's what they want!" The actual nature of the relationship between Hefner and his female companions at his relatively advanced age is sometimes the subject of speculation.
He purchased the crypt in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, California beside Marilyn Monroe stating that he wishes to be interred next to her.
He is also known for the awards, created by his daughter Christie Hefner, which carry his name Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award
