This article was originally published on JustStarz
The Playboy mansion will forever live on in cultural memory as one of the most iconic places of the 20th and early 21st centuries. From parties to eccentric personalities, Hugh Hefner's residency seemed to have it all. Yet despite all the glitz and glam, we didn't know much about what really happened behind those castle-like walls - until now. From weird dress codes to strict schedules, here's what the Playmates and Bunnies had to say about day-to-day life on the estate.
The Home Decor Was Stuck in the 1980s - Including Mattresses and Sheets
Hugh Hefner was worth billions when he passed away. He was also extremely concerned with aesthetic appeal. So, it's kind of perplexing to hear that the Playboy mansion really skimped on the interior decor. According to former playmates, most of the furniture in the house was from the 1980s, and what was there was often mismatched. "It was as if someone had gone to a charity shop and bought the basics," former Playmate Izabella St. James has said.
Hefner reportedly didn't even change the mattresses found in the Playmate's rooms, and the sheets were "past their best," according to St. James. Others have said that Hefner simply refused to change stuff around or update.
Underground Tunnels Connected to Celebrity Homes
Perhaps due to the intense secrecy surrounding the Playboy mansion, there have been many theories surrounding the house over the years. One such rumor was started by Playboy itself when it posted blueprints of the property online. The plan showed a network of tunnels that led to a couple of different stars' homes. This wouldn't have been too unbelievable as there were already rumors that stars like Will Smith and Rihanna had used tunnels to enter the mansion before.
However, Playboy eventually came out and said that the blueprints were merely an April Fool's joke, despite them being released a couple of days before April Fool's. That sounds a bit sketchy to us.
The Playmates Had a 9pm Curfew on Non-Party Nights
The Playboy mansion might've been known for its wild ways, but even party animals have to sleep. Hugh Hefner reportedly put in place a curfew for the Playmates staying there. That curfew was 9 p.m. After that time, Playmates couldn't even leave their room to visit the other girls. "When you're here, you have to be in by the 9 PM curfew. You're not allowed to invite any friends up to see you," former Playmate Carla Howe said.
She added that Hefner's then-wife, Crystal Harris, was the only one allowed to defy the curfew, and she sometimes left to do events and would come back the next day.
They Had to Ask Hugh for Their "allowance" Every Friday Morning
A couple of controversial truths have come out since Hugh Hefner passed away. One is that Hefner used quite a few manipulative tactics to ensure things were running as he saw fit. One such tactic was making Playmates come to him to collect their allowance at the beginning of each weekend. “Every Friday morning, we had to go to Hef’s room… and then ask for our allowance,” said Izabella St James, a former Playmate.
Hefner would then use the opportunity to tell the Playmates anything he wasn't happy with, such as Playmates missing events or arguing with one another. The Playmates reportedly "hated" having to go to collect their allowance.
The "No Boys Allowed" Rule Led Many Playmates to Move Out
Among the long list of rules Playmates had to follow, a "no boys" rule eventually caused many Playmates to move out. Hugh Hefner didn't allow the women living in the mansion to invite men over. "We were not allowed to have boys in the house. That was the absolute number one rule — no boys allowed," former Playmate Karissa Shannon has said. Apparently, this didn't sit well with everyone in the house.
Other former Playmates have come out and said that some Playmates would sneak men into the house every so often, but this was rare, and Playmates were always worried about getting caught.
You Could Get "fired for Looking Pale"
Perhaps unsurprisingly to some, the Playmates staying at the mansion were given strict rules when it came to what they could wear and how they prepared for their day. They were only permitted to wear certain shades of makeup and were sometimes made to wear wigs to keep them from looking "washed out." According to some former Playmates, not following these rules could result in severe punishments.
For example, some have said that you could get "fired for looking pale," and a lot of girls would stuff kleenex in their clothes for extra cleavage.
Holly Madison Compared It to a Cult
Former Playmate Holly Madison has been among the most vocal when it comes to criticizing the environment and lifestyle surrounding the Playboy mansion. She's called the Playboy mansion "cult-like" and described her initiation as a Playmate in similar terms. She said that upon arrival, she was bombarded with positive words about Hugh Hefner and said that she was gaslit. She cited the controlling atmosphere and strict curfew she was forced to follow as reasons she felt uncomfortable.
"You weren't really allowed to leave unless it was, like, a family holiday," Madison has said, adding that she also didn't know how to get out of the "cycle of gross things."
Surgeries Were on the House
Former Playmate Holly Madison once told the media that surgeries were extremely common among Playmates. And apparently, Hugh Hefner would pick up the tab if anyone in the house wanted to have work done. Things like nose alterations and other enhancements were common, and she said that there was almost always someone in the house that was recovering from some sort of treatment. And Hefner also picked up many other appearance-related tabs outside of the surgeon's office.
"Hugh wanted white hair, with no pigment, so we would shuttle to José Eber salon once a week for touch-ups," Madison has said. Basically, if it had to do with appearance, Hefner would pay for it.
Despite His Full-Time Housekeepers, Hefner's Bedroom Was Really Dirty
It might come as a surprise considering the army of staff that found employment at the Playboy mansion, but former Playmates have said that Hugh Hefner's room was unclean. Izabella St. James, an ex of Hefner's, said, "Hef was used to dirty carpets. The one in his bedroom had not been changed for years." And things got worse after another ex of Hefner, Holly Madison, moved in with two dogs.
Other former Playmates have come out and said that they were surprised and shocked at how cluttered and dirty the master bedroom was during their visits to Hefner's room.
A Documentary Alleged There Were Hidden Microphones and Cameras
In 2022, a documentary about Hugh Hefner and what went on behind the doors of the Playboy mansion made some pretty serious allegations. Former Playmates called the environment of the mansion "cult-like" and even alleged that Hefner had put up microphones and hidden cameras to keep tabs on the Playmates. Because of this, they said that they always felt like they had to be careful about what they said.
A former employee even said that Hefner kept tapes of the Playmates as a form of "collateral" and that there was more than one occasion where Playmates both intentionally and unintentionally hurt themselves.
An Outbreak in the Grotto Made All the Guests Sick
The first thing to come to many people's minds when they think of the Playboy mansion is often its famed grotto. It is iconic, but it's also just a swimming pool. So, it shouldn't be all that surprising to hear that it once made over 100 people pretty sick back in 2011. Reportedly, a lot of people came down with fevers, headaches, and other flu-like symptoms after a night spent in the pool.
Health officials were eventually able to find Legionella Pneumophila in the water. The bacteria can cause pneumonia and, in rare cases, Legionnaires' disease. Luckily, it doesn't look like anybody suffered anything that serious.
There Was an 'After Hours' Uniform
Some former Playmates have come out and revealed that Hugh Hefner made them wear an "after-hours" uniform that was a bit different from the bunny costume most people see. "We had to put on a certain pair of pink pajamas. They were all lined up and neat. You could tell they'd been to the cleaners. They told you to put them on, even though you'd take them off as soon as you entered Hef's room," former Playmate Jill Spaulding said.
Hefner was reportedly very strict about the uniform, even though the Playmates spent minimal time wearing it. But that's not surprising considering the other strict rules around the house.
Hefner Told the Girls How to Act on the Reality Show
With all the secrecy concerning life at the Playboy mansion, it's not surprising that a couple of high-profile shows have been released about the mansion. One such series, The Girls Next Door, was a reality show approved by Hefner himself. It saw three Playmates tell all about their life at the mansion and followed them around their daily adventures. But they've since revealed that real life in the estate wasn't anything like the life Hugh Hefner made them portray to the media.
They said that being a Playmate actually didn't pay that well and that they were sort of forced or molded into acting like people they weren't. If they didn't adhere to rules, then it was communicated to them that they were easily replaceable.
The 'Bunny Mother' Made Sure Everyone Followed the Rule Book
As cringe as it sounds, Hugh Hefner was considered by some as the "daddy" of the house. So, who was the "mother?" Well, it turns out they actually hired a special manager to fill this role. They were called bunny mothers and acted sort of like advisors. They were also in charge of inspecting Playmates for appearance to ensure they followed the rule book. And yes, it was an actual book.
In addition to upholding the "beauty standard," bunny mothers could hire, fire, and train Playmates. That's a pretty odd job description, but others have likened it to a sort of HR manager. We're not sure if that's the best description, though.
The Playmates Fought for Hugh's Attention - And He Encouraged It
Most photos of Playmates feature them close together and smiling. However, behind the scenes, things got a bit heated, according to some. And Hugh Hefner didn't exactly help matters. According to reports, many of the Playmates were constantly fighting for Hefner's attention and even went so far as to have work done in hopes it would please him. Hefner reportedly played off these arguments and sometimes added fuel to the fire.
“Hef liked to play the main girlfriend off of the youngest one to try to create competition,” former Playmate Holly Madison has said. Not only does that sound toxic, but that sounds pretty manipulative as well.
Holly's First Date With Hugh Was Not at All What She Wanted
Former Playmate and ex of Hugh Hefner, Holly Madison, has been very vocal about her disdain for the Playboy mansion and her former boyfriend. She's even described her first date with Hefner as a "traumatic" experience. "He was literally pushed on top of me. And after it happened, I was just mortified and embarrassed, and it had way more of an emotional impact on me than I thought it would," Madison has said about what happened after the two's first date.
"I thought it would be more the type of thing where I saw what happened, saw what was going on," she said, adding that she wasn't expecting to get intimate that night.
A Rigid Schedule Every Day/night of the Week
Despite the Playboy mansion being known as a place for partying, it also had a pretty rigid schedule. And we're not talking about that 9 pm curfew; there was a schedule at all times of the day. Apparently, Hugh loved a routine. For example, Playmates were expected to attend weekly events like "Fun in the Sun," "Family Night," "Club Night," and "Movie Night." Hefner also had a night dedicated to the boys in which he and his friends would have dinner and play cards all night.
All of this paints a picture of someone who was a lot more rigid in nature than the wild parties he threw might have you assume. That said, he famously wasn't a morning person and frequently woke up late.
Not Even Hollywood A-Listers Could Get in Without a Direct Invite From Hefner
It didn't matter how rich or famous you were; an invitation to the Playboy mansion only came via Hugh Hefner himself. And he reportedly was pretty strict with who he decided to invite to the property. Actor Rob Lowe once said, "An invitation to come to the mansion… was a tough ticket to get. You couldn't buy your way in; you couldn't use connections or a publicist or any Hollywood lever-pulling. Invitations came directly from Hugh Hefner, and he cast his parties very carefully in those days."
Being invited to a party didn't always guarantee you'd be allowed back in, either. There are a couple of stories out there of celebrities not being on their best behavior and subsequently being blacklisted.
The Playmates Weren't Party Guests or Hosts - They Were Party Employees
Being a Playmate wasn't all about partying. In addition to adhering to strict rules, Playmates often had to work various tasks around the mansion. These included things like distributing drinks and playing hostess. People who were given these tasks were also given titles like Door Bunny, Camera Bunny, and Cocktail Bunny. These items didn't come free either, and guests were expected to pay for things like drinks.
Other titles included Hatcheck Bunny and Giftshop Bunny. They are not very inventive titles, but we're sure they generated a pretty decent amount of revenue for the mansion.
The Former Mrs. Hefner Defends Hugh and the Mansion
Many items on this list sound pretty suspicious, but not everyone out there accused Hugh Hefner of gross misconduct. His former wife, Crystal Hefner, has come to his defense in recent years. "A lot of the women speaking out negatively wouldn't be where they were if it wasn't for Hef. I loved being there. It was really magical. It was something that could never be replicated again," she has said.
She went even further and said that Hefner was very open and welcoming to everyone that came to the house. The two were married in 2012 when Crystal was 26.
They Had a Zoo With Exotic Animals
The zoo at the Playboy mansion was pretty special as far as zoos go. For starters, the mansion was one of only a few private properties in the U.S. to have a zoo permit. A number of odd and exotic animals once called the mansion home, including monkeys, pink flamingos, snakes, a llama, and of course, real bunnies. You might be wondering what happened to all of those animals after the property was sold.
The new owner reportedly decided to keep the animals, and they are still there to this day. That's despite a sketchy situation in the past...
But One Animal's Suspicious Passing Led to a Revoked Zoo License
There are a couple of items on this list that talk about Hugh Hefner's love of animals. However, despite doing his best to care for them, there was one case in which a particularly loved llama ended up passing away under mysterious circumstances. The morning after an exceptionally wild party, people woke up to find that the llama was dead. A cause of death was never established, but it was enough to anger the neighbors.
Afterward, people around town got together, creating such an uproar that many of the big-name animals around the property were removed, and Los Angeles revoked Hefner's zoo license.
Hefner Set up a Cardboard Cut-Out of Himself When He Was Too Tired to Party
Despite most people's image of Hugh Hefner as a party animal, the truth is that he didn't always feel like attending festivities. That doesn't mean he didn't still throw them. He did. And he wanted everyone to know who was responsible for the party. So, on nights when he didn't feel like attending, he'd set up a cardboard cutout of himself in whatever room the party was happening in for revelers to see.
The cutout featured Hefner in his iconic red and black pajamas. Looking over and seeing a cardboard cutout of Hefner in the corner is a bit creepy, but you can't say he wasn't in tune with branding.
Hefner Sold the House Before He Even Passed Away
All things must come to an end, and Hugh Hefner's partying lifestyle was no exception. Former Playmates have said that during his last days, the mansion no longer felt like a place for partying. "It was like being with a grandad. Not long ago, they called in the nurse because he'd had a fall in the grotto," former Playmate Carla Howe reportedly said. Hefner ended up passing away in 2017 at the age of 91.
Hefner also ended up selling the mansion to his neighbor a year before he passed away. The neighbor planned on joining the property with his own and was last undergoing pretty extensive renovations.
Luke Wilson Was Banned After Lying About His Plus One's Identity
Actor Luke Wilson was put on a very special list after one visit to the Playboy mansion. But it wasn't exactly a good list. Wilson has said that one night he tried sneaking a friend into a party at the mansion. "I tried to get a friend in, and I'd shown up, and they said 'Who are you with?' and I'm like, 'I'm with my brother Owen' and they're like, 'We need to see him.'"
It turned out he wasn't with his famous brother, and the whole incident resulted in Wilson receiving an 18-month ban from the mansion. Honestly, that kind of jives with many of Luke Wilson's characters he plays on screen, so it's not all that surprising.
Some Celebrities Actually Moved Into the Mansion for a Couple of Years
The Playboy mansion hosted plenty of celebrities, but some of them actually ended up staying and living at the mansion over the years. One such persona was actor James Caan, who was known for portraying a playboy on screen. “There were tons of girls over there and… I’m sorry, but I liked ’em! Hef didn’t want me to leave… I brought a lot of levity to the place. Back then, it was the greatest nightclub in the world,” he said.
Other notable tenants included Tony Curtis and Shel Silverstein. Yes, that Shel Silverstein. The writer was known for his series of witty children's poetry and books. Many of the tenants were at the time either going through breakups or just down on their luck.
The Mansion Had a Pet Cemetery
A cemetery probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Playboy mansion, but the property did feature one. It wasn't a cemetery in the traditional sense, though. Instead, it was a sort of pet cemetery for all of the animals that stayed at the property over the years. Hugh Hefner reportedly loved animals and kept a number of exotic pets at the mansion through the years.
He kept so many that he had to apply for a zoo permit. So, when those animals eventually passed away, they would bury them on the premises in remembrance.
Secrecy Was the Code
The Playboy mansion was known for a lot of different things, but the secrecy surrounding the grounds and the parties is probably what made it such an intriguing place. And it turns out this was all by design. Hugh Hefner allegedly put in very strict rules for the people that visited and the Playboy bunnies that were living there. For example, former Playmates have said that there were strict rules associated with using social media.
Even posting a photo of yourself drunk could result in receiving an email and being disciplined. In fact, they've said that doing anything that didn't show the brand in a "good light" was off-limits.
Rihanna and DiCaprio's Brief Romance Reportedly Started in the Mansion
The Playboy mansion was no stranger to celebrity scandals. Obviously, things got wild on more than one occasion at the mansion. However, one scandal that has made the rounds a couple of times involves Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio. Supposedly, the two met at a party at the mansion one night in 2015 and were spotted making out in the corner. Of course, the encounter has never been fully confirmed.
However, it quickly caught fire and spawned all kinds of other rumors about the two's' fictitious relationship. There's even a writer on Twitter who's devoted her account to writing fan fiction about the two's relationship.
Don't Step on the Staircase's Third to Last Step
The jury might still be out on whether or not the Playboy mansion actually had secret tunnels, but it definitely had a couple of other quirks. Reportedly, Robert Downey Jr. and Stephen Baldwin were following a couple of playmates downstairs after a party one night when Downey told Baldwin to watch out for the third to last step on the staircase. The reason? It would set off an alarm that had been installed all the way back during Prohibition.
Apparently, the Playboy mansion already had a pretty long history of partying before Hugh Hefner moved in. Downey was also only aware of the alarm because he'd set it off before on a previous visit.
Elvis Had A Room Named After Him Following One Epic Visit
Elvis Presley is probably one of the more legendary names to have visited the Playboy mansion. He was reportedly a regular at some of Hugh Hefner's parties and even had a room named in his honor. However, that wasn't because he was a regular. Instead, the story goes that after one particularly long night of partying, he and eight Playmates wandered into the mentioned room, and the rest is history.
Nobody knows exactly what happened in the room, but we'll leave that up to your imagination. One thing is for sure, and that's whatever happened; it was epic enough to warrant a room named after him.
The Estate (Literally) Had It All
Most of the photos taken in the Playboy mansion focus on the Playmates or Hugh Hefner. However, they miss just how large and well-equipped the grounds actually were. The Playboy mansion reportedly came with a very long list of amenities, including tennis courts, a screening room with a pipe organ, and 27 other rooms devoted to who knows what. Some of these rooms even had special names commemorating past events.
Apart from that, the grounds also played host to a zoo (Hefner reportedly loved animals) and an aviary. It doesn't sound like such a bad to throw a party.
Why John Lennon Nearly Got Banned From the Mansion
The Playboy mansion played host to many legends and celebrities during its heyday. Among them was John Lennon. However, Lennon reportedly made a huge blunder during a party at the mansion. The singer once put his smoke out on a Henri Matisse painting after a few too many drinks. Luckily, Hugh Hefner was able to have the painting restored, and it ultimately didn't ruin it completely. It was also just an accident.
Many celebrities have been thrown out or disinvited from the mansion for less. But after he apologized, Lennon was reportedly invited back and forgiven after Hefner's friends almost got into an altercation with the rock legend.
Mike Tyson's Playboy Visit
There are a couple of celebrities on this list with notable visits to the Playboy mansion, but boxing legend Mike Tyson's might be one of the more memorable. Tyson was known for his love of partying, and during his visit to the mansion, he reportedly got a bit too tipsy. This led to him lighting up in a non-smoking area and continuing to smoke after being warned against it.
We mean, who's really going to try and force Mike Tyson to adhere to the rules? He then fell asleep in the theater room while his phone was on loud and kept ringing throughout the night.
Rob Lowe's First Visit at 19 Years Old
Rob Lowe's Playboy party story might just be as entertaining as the movie that landed him an invite to the mansion. Lowe had just starred in The Outsiders when Hugh Hefner called him up and invited him to a Super Bowl party at the mansion. He said that he was disoriented at first when he got to the mansion (what 19-year-old kid wouldn't be?). However, he happened to stumble into a room full of Playmates watching the game and talking about sports.
We'll let you find the story to read what happened next, but Lowe wasn't shy in speaking about the night, which he called dazzling and very disorienting for a newly minted actor.