Hefner, Leading the Private Playboy, Has Salary Set at $1M

HOLMBY HILLS, Calif. — In a sea of filings with the Security Exchange Commission, founder Hugh Hefner and his team have outlined Playboy's transition to a private company.

Hefner, according to one of the numerous filings, will agree to an annual base salary of $1 million and entitled to his permanent residence at the Playboy Mansion. Hefner's salary in 2009, the last year recorded, also was $1 million.

The filings with regulators include all kinds of information on the company in presentations to board members on company divisions, including pay per view, and investor institutions.

The filings also include letters to shareholders and the formal offer to purchase statements.

Hefner’s plan remains a good one for the Playboy founder, who has been its chief creative officer ever since its beginning in 1953. Hefner is 84.

“If Mr. Hefner’s employment is terminated for cause or Mr. Hefner resigns for good reason, then during the remainder of his life, he may continue to reside in the Playboy Mansion ...," Playboy said in the regulatory statement.

The new agreement also spells out terms of using the Playboy name past his life.

"Following Mr. Hefner’s death or any time at which he no longer owns any equity in purchaser, the surviving corporation may continue using the licensed property in connection with then-existing uses that were previously approved by Mr. Hefner for an annual license fee of $250,000 payable to a charitable foundation or other nonprofit designated by Mr. Hefner or his estate," Playboy said in the filing.

"The surviving corporation also receives a right of first negotiation/offer if Mr. Hefner ever elects to sell, assign or transfer the licensed property to a third party."

Playboy also said that CEO Scott Flanders will receive an annual base salary of $900,000, with an annual increase of $25,000 commencing in March, and an annual bonus opportunity of up to 100 percent of his base salary.

Hefner, who controls Icon Acquisition Holdings, plans on taking Playboy private along with investment firm Rizvi Traverse Management LLC, which was first approached by Playboy to go private in December 2009.

Previous to today's tender offer, Hefner owned about 70 percent of Playboy's Class A common stock and 28 percent of its nonvoting Class B stock.

The transaction values the company at about $207 million, topping Hefner's offer of $5.50 per share in July, though just shy of an offer made by FriendFinder Networks that's valued at $210 million.

Playboy's board of directors revealed in the filing Monday night it had turned down a higher price offer from FriendFinder , indicating the bid's value was less than that of Hefner's all-cash proposal.

Monday night’s SEC filings relative to Playboy can be viewed on its website here.

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

AdultHTML Launches 'Dedicated AI-First' Solution

AdultHTML has launched its Dedicated AI-First developer solution.

Sofia Smith, Ria Sunn & Lexi Star Topline Latest Volume of Angelo Godshack's 'Angels of Hardcore'

Sofia Smith, Ria Sunn, and Lexi Star headline the fifth volume of director Angelo Godshack’s “Angels of Hardcore,” from Evil Angel.

Isa Bella, Scarlette Moon Headline 'Married to Him, Craving Her'

Isa Bella and Scarlette Moon topline the latest release from Girlfriends Films, titled "Married to Him, Craving Her."

Girlsway Debuts Casey Calvert Drama 'Straight Girls'

Girlsway has released the new drama from multi-XMAs winner Casey Calvert, titled “Straight Girls.”

Juliana Marie, Lana Gee Front Latest Release From TeamSkeet

Juliana Marie stars with Lana Gee and Danny Mountain in the latest scene from TeamSkeet’s “Singles” series, titled “Dad’s Safety Lessons: I Caught Them Riding a Dildo Bike.”

Milena Ray Performs Her 1st DVP for Immoral Productions

Milena Ray performs her first DVP alongside Matt Bird, Terry Banks, and "Porno Dan" Leal in the latest trilogy from Immoral Productions.

Richard Mann Drops New Evil Angel Scene With Sona Bella

Sona Bella stars with director Richard Mann in a new release from Evil Angel.

Emma Rose Leads New Release from Grooby

Multi-XMAs winner Emma Rose stars in the latest release from GroobyVR.

Lauren Phillips Fronts Latest From MYLF

2024 XMAs MILF Performer of the Year Lauren Phillips stars with Anthony Pierce in the latest release from MYLF series “Anal Mom.”

Lilly Bell Makes Her Tushy Raw Debut

XMAs winner Lilly Bell has made her debut for Tushy Raw alongside Jimmy Bud in the latest release from the Vixen Media Group imprint.

Show More