Playboy Mansion for sale, but Hefner is staying

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

For $200 million, the Playboy Mansion, where risque parties have raged for decades, could be yours.

But you might want to think twice if you’re aiming to close escrow on the famous property that went on the market Monday and move in quickly, since Playboy Magazine founder and party master Hugh Hefner has often said he will never live anywhere else.

“A condition on the sale would be that Mr. Hefner be able to continue to work and live in the residence,” Playboy spokesman John Vlautin said.

Negotiations between the seller and buyer would determine whether the 89-year-old playboy stays for free or rents the place back.

The 5-acre property in Los Angeles’ exclusive Holmby Hills has seen thousands of celebrities and beautiful women pass through its doors.

It features 29 rooms, game house, home theater, wine cellar, gym, tennis court, swimming pool and four-bedroom guest house. It also comes with the notorious cave-like grotto where Playboy bunnies have long frolicked with guests.

Still, potential buyers have to ask if the two-story Gothic-Tudor home built in 1927 is worth $200 million, particularly when a 7-acre estate nearby sold last year for $59 million?

“Maybe $90 million. But $200 million? That’s absurd,” said Realtor Rory Barish.