Playboy is an American men's
lifestyle and entertainment magazine. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by
Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. Notable for its
centerfolds of
nude and semi-nude
models (
Playmates),
Playboy played an important role in the
sexual revolution and remains one of the world's best-known brands, having grown into
Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with a presence in nearly every medium. In addition to the flagship magazine in the United States, special nation-specific versions of
Playboy are published worldwide.