Here's Who Inherited Hugh Hefner's Mansion And Other Fortunes

Hugh Hefner has gone down in history as Playboy's poster boy. According to Esquire, it was reported that from 2002 to his death, he slept with thousands of women. He also had an enormous publishing empire to his name–which he started in the 1950s with a capital of $8,000 he borrowed from his mom.

Hefner was synonymous with the Playboy brand with his silk robe and hat. He was such a global success, and before he died in 2017 at the age of 91 years old, he became friends with several celebrities like Mick Jagger, Tony Robertson, and Pamela Anderson, to name a few.

He was also viewed as an Innovator and public figure, with his lifestyle mainly attracting public attention.

With more popularity comes more wealth. As recorded by The Telegraph, Hefner's net worth was about $200million. He even made Forbes list of highest-paid celebrities for having earned 15million dollars in the year of his death.

Although Hefner has been gone for years now, some questions still swirl around the minds of fans and people alike– most specifically, the fate of his fortunes after his death.

Although born in the middle class, Hefner had goals and aspirations for his life. He began his foray in his career by working for Esquire as a copywriter. He later quit to pursue his goals of having his magazine, per IMDb.

After he launched his magazine through mostly borrowed capital, he featured Marilyn Monroe as the first model of the magazine.

Playboy then became a controversial magazine, with the overt sexuality and debauchery the magazine promoted. 

Over the years, Hefner expanded the magazine to include clubs, merchandise, and of course, his Mansion, where he had reckless parties.

Although his will wasn't made public, it was widely accepted that a huge chunk of his fortune went straight to his children; Christie, David, Marston, and Cooper.

In a report in Us Weekly, a part of his fortune was also given to "the University of Southern California film school and various charities."

In other documents obtained from Entertainment Tonight, his will also involved his wife as beneficiary. However, in the same report, it was alleged that Hefner signed a tight prenuptial agreement before they got married. This was also a nod to the rumors of his wife not getting any money from Hefner's estate. 

She, nonetheless, received a four-bedroom home in Hollywood Hills West, which she sold for five million dollars. She also became the Vice President of her husband's foundation, Hugh M. Hefner Foundation.

Despite his lavish lifestyle, he added a clause to his will stating that any of his beneficiaries should be removed from the will if they engaged in "any illegal substance or become clinically dependent on alcohol." This indicates that they could be subjected to drug testing at any time and could be removed from his inheritance if they were found guilty.

At the time of the Playboy mogul's death, most of his wealth was estimated to be about $50million. This was primarily based on figures TMZ released before his divorce in 2009.

The document revealed that his total monthly income came to about $290,000, with additional assets of about $43million.However, in a Fortune report, the accurate figure is likely closer to $15 million — or possibly even less. This was upon more relative analysis of his financial records and agreements. 

Despite Hefner's high monthly income and rent-free housing, he had few assets and real estate to his name. Furthermore, his shares in Playboy Enterprises weren't worth anything unless the company found a buyer or started trading publicly. 

And at $7.4 million, he paid in expenses every year along with other lavish fees (including an average donation of $250,000 per year to his foundation), he was likely living from hand to mouth and beyond his means.

According to the LA Times, the Mansion was purchased in 2016 by the son of billionaire investor C. Dean Metropoulos.

The publication noted that the $100 million sales were the most significant home sales recorded in Los Angeles County. Interestingly, according to some specific terms of the sale, Hefner was allowed to remain in residence at the Playboy Mansion for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, the famous Playboy founder died a year after the sale.

The Playboy Mansion remains a hotbed of debauchery and indulgence to pop culture fans worldwide.

However, it's primarily run as a place of business. The Things notes that the Playboy Mansion is currently about to receive a major renovation, as much of the decor still remains the same from the '70s and '80s when the founder still lived and threw lavish parties in the Mansion.