You Can Buy Hugh Hefner's Stuff at Auction ー and Some of It's Cheap
*By Carlo Versano*
If you've ever wanted to sleep in Hugh Hefner's silk pajamas, you're about to get your chance.
Various pairs of those pjs in a rainbow of colors ー "straight from his closet at the Playboy Mansion" ー are among the items going on the auction block in Los Angeles Friday and Saturday. Julien's Auctions, known for its sales of ephemera from high-profile stars like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, is inviting the public to bid on any of the available [836 items](https://www.juliensauctions.com/exhibition-press-release?id=202) .
Martin Nolan, the executive director of Julein's Auctions, gave Cheddar an up-close look at a few of his favorite pieces. And some are priced to sell.
Bidding for Hef's famous sailor hat will start around $100, while the first key to the first Playboy Club is expected to go in the $200 to $400 range. Nolan called the items for auction "great conversation pieces" but also "tangible assets."
"Over time, it's likely they will appreciate in value," Nolan said.
Indeed, some already have. When Hefner was starting Playboy Enterprises, he famously paid $500 for previously unreleased nude photos of Marilyn Monroe, which he then used as the centerpiece of the inaugural Playboy issue in 1953. Hefner's personal copy of that issue, which originally sold on newsstands for 50 cents, is expected to fetch up to $5,000. Monroe, whose image Hefner appropriated to start his lucrative business empire, once [said](https://books.google.com/books?id=i1DVLf3y36kC&lpg=PA84&dq=%22I%20never%20even%20received%20a%20thank-you%20from%20all%20those%20who%20made%20millions%20off%20a%20nude%20Marilyn%20photograph.%20I%20even%20had%20to%20buy%20a%20copy%20of%20the%20magazine%20to%20see%20myself%20in%20it%22&pg=PA84#v=onepage&q=thank-you&f=false) she never got a thank you from Hef, and that she paid for her own copy of the issue to see her photos. Hefner, who died in 2017, bought the crypt next to Monroe's and is now interred there.
The proceeds from the auction will benefit the Hugh Hefner Foundation, his personal philanthropy that promotes issues of civil liberties and First Amendment rights.
Elliot Wolf, EVP of Digital at Wolf Entertainment, and Ben Arnon CRO at Curio, join Cheddar News to discuss the new NFT project called the Wolf Society.
Darnell M. Hunt, Dean of Social Sciences at UCLA an co-author of UCLA's Hollywood Diversity Report, joins Cheddar News to discuss how the latest report reveals TV content from diverse writers and with diverse casts resonated with pandemic audiences.
Tony award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose joined Cheddar's "Between Bells" to discuss the upcoming third season of the podcast, Being Seen. As Rose's first time hosting the series, she explained that it was important for her to do so to offer a unique perspective potentially with the power to change narratives. "We have the ability in our media and our entertainment to change the space in which Black women are seen, to change the narrative of the strong Black woman, and to show a more humanistic view of Black women and Black femmes that will bring people to an understanding and a connection that maybe they didn't otherwise have," she said. Rose also touched on her role in the Netflix series "Maid."
Paid family & medical leave is left out of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better domestic policy plan. Abby Vesoulis, reporter for TIME joins Cheddar News to breakdown what this means for Americans.
Oatly Chief Sustainability Officer, Ashley Allen joins Cheddar News to talk about food waste and hows its been left off the table in the upcoming COP26 agenda. Ashley will be on the ground at COP26 and advocating for this conversation to get the attention it deserves.
Carlo's flying solo today, talking COP26 and climate change, another racially charged trial gets underway, SCOTUS takes on abortion and a stunning rise in traffic deaths points to a bigger societal breakdown sparked by the pandemic.
Apple reported strong fourth quarter earnings, but sales fell below expectations. CEO Tim Cook said chip shortages and manufacturing delays cost the company $6 billion. The issues have led to the newly-launched iPhone 13 Pro being in short supply around the world, as well as to back orders for Apple's new Macbook Pro. Exponential Investment Partners Managing Partner Kevin Riley joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Electric bike company Dance recently raised $19.4 million, just weeks after rolling out its e-bike subscription service in Berlin. Dance allows users to subscribe to use an e-bike for around €79, or about $91, a month. Dance says its subscription model allows the company to reuse and refurbish its products, and further its mission to build more sustainable and livable cities. Dance founder and CEO Eric Quidenus-Wahlforss joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
How much real money would you pay for a virtual plot of land? Developing technology is introducing everyone in the real world to new, virtual worlds, like Decentraland. In this metaverse economy, users are buying virtual real estate at high value – and it’s not just the average Joe that’s looking to invest. Company's like Facebook are betting big.