Hugh Hefner, founder of the Playboy media empire, died at the age of 91 Wednesday at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, according to a statement from Playboy Enterprises.
According to the news release: "Hugh M. Hefner, the American icon who in 1953 introduced the world to Playboy magazine and built the company into one of the most recognizable American global brands in history, peacefully passed away today from natural causes at his home, The Playboy Mansion, surrounded by loved ones."
His son, Cooper Hefner, the chief creative officer of Playboy Enterprises, said in the statement: "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 defined a lifestyle and ethos that lie at the heart of the Playboy brand, one of the most recognizable and enduring in history. 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's Twitter account was last updated on September 19th. His final tweets focused on helping others like the victims of Hurricane Harvey and Irma.
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, an immense amount of effort will be required to recover and rebuild...
— Hugh Hefner (@hughhefner) September 19, 2017
Watch More with TheStreet:
