Hugh Hefner 'to be buried next to Marilyn Monroe'

Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner is set to be buried next to the magazine’s first ever centrefold, Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe, after he bought the vault next to hers in the early 90s, it has been reported.

It was announced last night that the businessman had passed away surrounded by his loved ones at the age of 91.

Now it has been claimed that Hefner bought the mausoleum vault next to Marilyn’s in Los Angeles’ Westwood Village Memorial Park for $75,000 (£56,000) in 1992 so that he could lie next to the actress for all eternity.

In 2009, an anonymous bidder bought the vault directly above Marilyn’s for $4.6million (£2.8million).

Hefner previously credited Marilyn for Playboy magazine’s staggering success, with him using a nude image originally taken for a calendar as the centrefold for the first ever issue of the magazine in December 1953.

The issue completely sold out, with 50,000 copies being sold across America – securing the publication’s ongoing success.

Since then, Playboy has helped build the careers of some of the entertainment world’s biggest stars, with the likes of Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra taking to social media to thank Hefner for kickstarting their showbiz careers after news of his death broke.

Confirming his death in a statement, Hefner’s son Cooper shared: “My father lived an exceptional and impactful life as a media and cultural pioneer and a leading voice behind some of the most significant social and cultural movements of our time in advocating free speech, civil rights and sexual freedom.

“He defined a lifestyle and ethos that lie at the heart of the Playboy brand, one of the most recognizable and enduring in history.”

Hugh Hefner is survived by his wife Crystal, sons Cooper, David and Marston, and his daughter, Christie.

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