| 9 Apr 1926 |
Hugh Marston Hefner born to Grace and Glenn Hefner, Chicago IL. |
| Jan 1944 |
Graduates Steinmetz High, Chicago IL. Joins U.S. Army. |
| 1946 |
Honorable discharge from U.S. Army. |
| 1949 |
Marries Millie Williams. |
| 1951 |
Hired as copywriter, Esquire magazine. |
| 8 Nov 1952 |
Daughter, Christie, born. |
| Dec 1953 |
First issue of Playboy, featuring Marilyn Monroe. 51,100 copies sold. |
| 1957 |
Separates from wife Millie. |
| 1959 |
Divorces from wife Millie. |
| 1959 |
Purchases the Playboy Mansion, Chicago's Gold Coast. |
| Jun 1963 |
Arrested in Chicago for obscenity, over The Nudest Jayne Mansfield. Hung jury voted 7-5 to acquit. |
| 1963 |
Feminist Gloria Steinem becomes a Playboy Bunny, writes exposé documenting degradation. |
| 1965 |
Establishes the Playboy Foundation. |
| 1971 |
Purchases Playboy Mansion West, Holmby Hills CA. |
| 1972 |
Playboy circulation: 7 million. |
| 15 Oct 1977 |
Hosts Saturday Night Live. |
| 1984 |
Sylvilagus palustris hefneri (a variety of cottontail rabbit) discovered in the Lower Florida Keys, and named after Hefner. Coincidentally, Hefner financed this research. |
| 1985 |
Suffers a stroke, resulting in temporary paralysis and inability to read. |
| 1988 |
Marries Playmate Kimberly Conrad. |
| 1988 |
Daughter Christie in charge of Playboy operations. |
| 1 Aug 1988 |
The only remaining Playboy Club, Lansing Michigan, closes. |
| 1 Jul 1989 |
Marries Playmate Kimberly Conrad. |
| 21 Jun 1990 |
Sylvilagus palustris hefneri added to the roster of endangered species. |
| 1989 |
Wife Kimberly is Playmate of the Year. |
| Jan 1998 |
Trial separation from wife Kimberly. |
| 1998 |
Divorces Kimberly Conrad. |
| Jul 2003 |
Announces Hef's Superbunnies, animated television series to "introduce Playboy to younger generations." Stan Lee will develop the series, featuring Playmates fighting the "enemies of democracy." |