Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner Dead at 91

Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy, has died. He was 91.

The company confirmed the news in a statement, saying he “peacefully passed away today from natural causes at his home, The Playboy Mansion, surrounded by loved ones.”

His son Cooper Hefner, Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises, paid tribute to his dad, saying, “My father lived an exceptional and impactful life as a media and cultural pioneer and a leading voice behind some of the most significant social and cultural movements of our time in advocating free speech, civil rights and sexual freedom… He will be greatly missed by many, including his wife Crystal, my sister Christie and my brothers David and Marston, and all of us at Playboy Enterprises."

Hefner will be buried next to Marilyn Monroe. In 1992, he bought the crypt next to Monroe for a reported $75,000. He told CBS five years ago, "I will be laid to rest in a vault next to hers. It has a completion notion to it. I will be spending the rest of my eternity with Marilyn.”

Hefner launched Playboy in Chicago in 1953 and went on to build the company into the global brand Playboy Enterprises, with more than $1 billion in sales annually.

For more than 45 years, Hugh Hefner was surrounded by celebrities at the Playboy Mansion.

Some of the big names to party at the mansion include Charlie Sheen, Bill Maher, Pamela Anderson and Snoop Dogg.

After the sad news, many celebrities took to social media to mourn Hugh's death, including Pamela Anderson, who posted a tearful video. Watch.

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