Playboy is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. Notable for its centerfolds of nude and semi-nude models (Playmates), Playboy played an important role in the sexual revolution and remains one of the world's best-known brands, having grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc. (PEI), with a presence in nearly every medium. In addition to the flagship magazine in the United States, special nation-specific versions of Playboy are published worldwide.
The front cover of the first issue of Playboy, featuring Marilyn Monroe, December 1953
After a year-long removal of most nude photos in Playboy magazine, the March–April 2017 issue brought back nudity.
In March 2020, Ben Kohn, CEO of Playboy Enterprises, announced that the Spring 2020 issue would be the last regularly scheduled printed issue and that the magazine would now publish its content online. The decision to close the print edition was attributed in part to the COVID-19 pandemic which interfered with distribution of the magazine.
International editions:
Asia
Philippines (2008–present)
South Korea (2017-present)
Thailand (2012–present)
Africa
African Community (2017-present)
South Africa (1993–1996, 2011–present)
North America
Mexico (1976–1998, 2002–present)
United States (1953–present)
South America
Brazil (1975-2017)
Colombia (2008–2012, 2017-present)
Oceania
Australia (1979–2000, 2018-present)
Europe
Bulgaria (2002–present)
Croatia (1997–present)
Czech Republic (1991–present)
Denmark (2018-present)
France (1973–1988, 1991-2011, 2016-present)
Germany (1972–present)
Greece (1985–2015, 2019-present)
Italy (1972–1985, 1987-2003, 2008–present)
Netherlands (1982–present)
Portugal (2009-2010, 2012–2013, 2015-present)
Russia (1995–present)
Slovakia (1997–2003, 2005–present)
Slovenia (2001–present)
Spain (1978–2012, 2017-present)
Sweden (1998–1999, 2017-present)
Switzerland (2017-present)
Ukraine (2005–present)
Asia
Hong Kong (1986–1993)
Indonesia (2006–2008)
Israel (2013)
Japan (1975–2009)
Mongolia (2012–2015)
Singapore (2015)
Taiwan (1990-1993, 1996–2003)
South America
Argentina (1985–1995, 2006–2018)
Brazil (1975–2018)
Venezuela (2006–2017)
Europe
Austria (2012–2014) (only special issues from time to time)
Belgium (1987-1991, 1994-2003, 2008)
Estonia (2007–2011)
Georgia (2007–2008)
Hungary (1989–1993, 1999–2019)
Latvia (2010–2014)
Lithuania (2008–2013)
Macedonia (2010–2011)
Moldova (2012)
Norway (1997–1999)
Poland (1992–2019)
Romania (1999–2016)
Serbia (2004–2015)
Turkey (1986–1995)