Of course, everyone is well acquainted with the legendary magazine, which at one time was a real breakthrough in glossy journalism, called “Playboy”. The founder of this publication, 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 managed to create something new in this genre that would be as successful as Playboy. No one can solve the riddle of the popularity of the professional activities of this unique person.
Hugh Hefner's childhood and youth
The founder of Playboy was born on April 29, 1926 in the city of Chicago, located in the state of Illinois, USA. All his early years passed in the most ordinary way, so this period of his life does not have any 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 their attention due to the fact that the founder of "Playboy" in his youth was not badly complex and had a toned figure of an athlete.
After graduating from school in Chicago, young Hugh Hefner goes to serve in the army. At this time, the world was experiencing a period of World War II, so he had to go to Europe and even take part in active hostilities in the cities of France and Germany.
When the war ended, Hefner returned home and entered a university course in philosophy and psychology, where he created a humorous newspaper with the heading “Student of the Year”, which was the first step towards creating such a brainchild as “Playboy”. The founder of such a magazine then could not even imagine what kind of success would bring him.
Legendary Playboy Family
Hugh Marston Hefner was born into the most ordinary American family. His parents, mother Geis Caroline Sounson and father Glenn Lucius Hefner, were people of very strict and conservative views. None of the family members even had the right to go to the cinema, not to mention something more. On Sundays, the whole family attended church services.
Despite this upbringing, the founder of Playboy (his biography is a direct proof of this) had completely different principles and outlooks on life. Later, he later declared that the creation of the magazine was his reaction and internal protest to such a Puritan upbringing.
The beginning of a successful career
The profession of a journalist, Hugh Hefner predicted from school. Although the student was not diligent and assiduous in the lessons, he wrote articles and made drawings for the school newspaper with pleasure.
The first thoughts on creating this type of magazine were visited by Hugh in his student years. Under the influence of crazy parties, ideas about the publication of a glossy breakthrough called "Playboy" crept in. The founder knew that in the future he would face a serious step in this matter, but at first it was necessary to work as an ordinary journalist for experience. And so began the career of Hugh Hefner.
At the very beginning of his professional career, he managed to work in the editorial office of Shaft magazine, where he worked on various cartoons for several years. Then he was invited to a very large publisher Esquire, which introduced him more closely to all the nuances of glossy journalism and finally convinced him that he could independently open his own magazine.
The path to professional growth and starry 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. e. earned himself, and borrowed 1000 from his mother.
When the necessary amount of money was collected, Hefner initially intended to release a publication called Stag Party, which translates as “The Party of Bachelors, ” but subsequently abandoned this idea. Then followed a long and painstaking work on creating a new brand with the well-known name - “Playboy”. The founder believed in his strength, and after a while this venture brought its first fruits.
The long-awaited and successful first release
In December 1953, this important event finally happened, which turned Hugh Hefner's whole future life upside down. The first issues of the magazine appeared in all newsstands in America. The then-little-known actress Marilyn Monroe flaunted on its main cover, which became its main highlight. The first circulation was 70, 000 copies, which were almost immediately sold out. Even Hefner did not expect such a dizzying success.
All the profit that he received from the sales of the first edition made it possible not only to pay off his debts, but also to begin developing the second issue, which appeared after some time and had no less success. Thus, already in the 50s, the rabbit logo in a tuxedo became very popular among American readers.
How did the corporation develop further?
In subsequent years, everything turned out just perfect. At first, the magazine was popular only with a male audience, but after some time, many well-known models began to send erotic photos themselves and ask for Playboy covers to raise their own ratings.
Not only beautiful and sexy girls on the covers attracted readers. There were also published interesting articles on a variety of topics that were interesting to smart and thinking men.
Meanwhile, the corporation was gaining momentum, respectively, Hugh's income also increased. In 1971, Playboy Enterprises already counted in its assets numerous hotels, casinos, clubs and resorts. She had her own television studio, model agency, and recording studio.
In 1998, when it was decided to sell the corporation, the profit from its transfer to other hands amounted to more than $ 300 million.
