Playboy Party Passes! The Craziest Things That Happened At The Playboy Mansion
Feb. 22 2021, Updated 8:41 p.m. ET
Hugh Hefner paid $1.5 million for the 5.2 acre Holmby Hills, California Playboy mansion back in 1971. Within two years, the Playboy founder and publisher had completed a full court effort to custom craft a home that would become legendary.
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Over the next four decades, that is exactly what the Playboy Mansion evolved into … that is until the iconic pop culture figure died at the age of 91. During his time as the king of his castle, the mansion was the epicenter for a sexually and culturally progressive movement as well as some epic parties that have long been a dream of party-goers across the globe. Sadly, they no longer exist, but the stories and the memories remain.
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Here are some of the memories of a few celebrities (like Rob Lowe) and some other people who detail several of the wildest moments from some very wild Playboy mansion parties.
Who: Mike Tyson
What happened? Although “Iron” Mike Tyson has mellowed over the years, for a large part his life he was every bit the wild boxer that his reputation said he was. So what did “The Champ” do to get his host, Hefner, to block him from attending any future like as the one that got him booted? It was one of Hefner’s beloved movie nights. The Playboy founder was a huge movie fanatic, and his film screening invites were as in-demand as his parties. Tyson was invited and fell asleep, so he was never invited to a movie night ever again.
Who: Leonardo DiCaprio & Rihanna
What happened? There was a long-standing belief that Leonardo DiCaprio and Rihanna were a couple. Turned out that the source of this story came from the famed Playboy mansion. It was during a 2015 party at Hef’s — to salute designer Nikki Erwin — that the Titanic star and the “Umbrella” singer shared a kiss, per Us Weekly. Oh, it’s all part of that Leonardo DiCaprio relationship history! Now, we have the origins story.
Who: Luke Wilson
What happened? He got banned! The famed actor Luke Wilson, also brother of Owen Wilson, showed up at the mansion expecting to get into one of the bigger parties on the Playboy calendar. Turned out, he was not on the list and was excommunicated from the mansion for an entire year after.
Who: A legion of party guests
What happened? Legionnaires' disease ran rampant after a few parties at Hef’s house back in February of 2011. A convention brought a group of people to the mansion, and soon after, 123 people complained of having a fever and difficulty breathing after the Playboy Mansion experience. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health came, and they traced the illness to the famed Grotto — a hot tub — where they found Legionelle pneumophila.
Who: Rob Lowe
What happened? Rob Lowe was just 18 and fresh off The Outsiders success and scored an invite to a Super Bowl party at the mansion. He detailed his story in Esquire. To sum up, let’s just say it was everything he thought it would be and so much more. For starters, he was greeted by Hef in his silk pajamas. Then, he wound up in a bungalow with what seemed like an army of bunnies who fawned over the young movie star in a sea of older gentlemen who frequented the mansion in the '80s. One took a liking to Lowe and the two hooked up. When he emerged, the big game had long finished, and he wondered if life was like this everyday at the mansion? As the sun set on the day, he headed over to the famed grotto and waded into the water in his boxers. Hoping to meet up with his conquest from earlier, he met a different “friend” and his day of fun continued. It was a good first visit to a Playboy Mansion bash for Lowe.
Who: John Lennon
What happened? Another rock and roll royal, another wild Playboy mansion story. Word had it that the Beatle attended a party back in the day and didn’t appreciate Hefner’s art collection. Others suggested that things just got out of hand. John Lennon drank too much and put out his cigarette on an original Henri Matisse painting. Hefner got the painting restored, and he let bygones be bygone. Interestingly, Lennon was not banned.
Who: Elvis Presley
What happened? There is a so-called “secret room” at the mansion that bears the King of Rock and Roll’s name. It seemed that Elvis Presley visited Hef’s home on occasion during its heyday in the '60s and '70s. On one particular evening during the “Me” decade, the “Jailhouse Rock” singer allegedly had his own little slumber party with eight bunnies. From that point on, that space in Hef’s house would be immortalized by his name, “The Elvis Room.” Not quite like the Lincoln bedroom in the White House, but … you get the picture.
Who: A Llama?!
What happened? After one of the mansion’s iconic late-night parties, a zoo worker was taken aback when they discovered a deceased llama. After the animal was found, animal authorities visited the mansion's private zoo and had several of the big cats removed, but many of the other creatures — such as macaws and peacocks were allowed to stay.
Who: Dita Von Teese
What happened? When Spike TV was debuting, the men’s-centric television station needed some sort of hook for its launch party … something that would grab headlines and attract attention from their main viewing demographic. What better way than to hold the bash at the Playboy Mansion? The highlight found the future Mrs. Marilyn Manson (and soon after, ex), Dita Von Teese, “performing,” i.e. dancing in a giant martini glass wearing nothing but earrings and a smirk.
Who: Jack Nicholson & Warren Beatty
What happened? Rumors were rampant that in the '70s stars like frequent Playboy mansion visitors Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty had tunnels that went from their own mansions to the mansion for easy access and even better — a quick and paparazzi-free escape. Their existence was confirmed when blueprints of the property were released in 2015, per NarCity.com.