Even today, years after the death of its controversial homeowner, the Playboy Mansion continues to be one of the most famous homes in Los Angeles (the original Playboy Mansion is in Chicago, but it’s, arguably, not as popular as the California mansion today). Hugh Hefner scooped up the sprawling property back in 1971 for a cool $1.1 million. It’s been rumored that the Playboy founder decided to make the purchase upon the insistence of then-girlfriend Barbi Benton. Since then, Hefner has shared the home with his many other girlfriends and wives.And while the women around Hefner may come and go, it seems that Playboy Mansion staff had remained even after the home was sold to billionaire Daren Metropoulos for $100 million in 2016. That’s largely because Hefner continued to live in the extravagant property even after the sale. Following his death in 2017, however, the mansion has been in ruins with the staff nowhere to be found.
What Were The Playboy Mansion Rules?
As it turns out, Hefner is quite a stickler for rules and when it came to Playmates and staffers, everyone must abide by them, or risk being asked to leave. And while staff has stayed mum on the actual rules in the mansion, several of Hefner’s ex-girlfriends were willing to share some surprising details.
For starters, it has been widely reported that Hefner implemented a strict 9 p.m. curfew at the house, something that ex-girlfriend Holly Madison, (the two broke up in 2008), knew about even before moving in.
“Everybody would talk about that, the staff at the Mansion, the guests, everybody knew about it,” she explained while speaking on the Power: Hugh Hefner podcast. “People would kind of joke about it because it sounded so silly.”
And while others in the home had to observe a curfew, William S. Bloxsom-Carter, Playboy Mansion’s chef, had to keep the kitchen running 24 hours a day to cater to Hefner and his family, girlfriends, and guests. At the same time, Hefner also typically ate later in the day, reportedly having his breakfast around 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. before ordering his lunch and dinner at 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. respectively.
What Was It Like Working At The Playboy Mansion?
Based on several accounts from former staff, the work life inside the Playboy Mansion came with a lot of high expectations and sometimes, intense demands, which sometimes go beyond the scope of duties that a person was hired for.
For instance, Stefan Tetenbaum, who worked as Hefner’s valet from 1978 and 1979, found himself cleaning up after Hefner and his guests during what is known as “Pig Night.” During an interview with the New York Post, Tetenbaum explained this further, saying, “On certain nights, Mr. Hefner had prostitutes brought up to the mansion and he would entertain them with a big dinner and invite his friends to come and participate in different intimate acts with them.”
During the so-called Pig Night, he also revealed that he “made sure the maids took all the sex toys down to the basement after use and washed and sterilized them before returning the gadgets to the secret compartment above his bed.”
At the same time, Tetenbaum also attended to Hefner whenever his sick, preparing his so-called “sick menu.” “Pepsi, Campbell’s chicken noodle soup and M&Ms — whenever he felt ill, which was often because he was a hypochondriac,” he further explained.
On the other hand, Charlie Ryan, who worked as Hefner’s butler revealed that there wasn’t really anything exciting about his job, despite being in the Playboy Mansion. Sure, he would chat with celebrities but as Ryan told Stuff, “It was basically setting tables, making the bed, setting up his toothbrushes, making sure everything was ready and orderly.”
Similarly, Carter also remarked that there is nothing glamorous about cooking for Hefner's mansion. “It really annoys me when people say I have a cushy job,” he remarked. “They think the girls are in lingerie and six-inch heels standing by my desk and waiting for my next commend [sic].”
What Happened To The Playboy Mansion Staff?
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It seems a lot of the mansion’s former staff have moved on from working for Hefner following his death (or even before that). For starters, Ryan quit his job with Playboy because he wanted more for himself. “At the end of the day it was a great job, but it was still a job in service to another,” he explained.
After he left, Ryan flew to New Zealand to be with his mother. There, he worked in a bakery for eight years. More recently, Ryan has been restoring and selling houses with his wife. As for Tetenbaum, he no longer works as a valet. Instead, he took up sculpting while remaining in California.
On the other hand, Chef Carter went on to own and manage The Canyon Villa, a bed and breakfast, with his wife, Katherine. “My wife Katherine and I purchased The Canyon Villa in April 2015,” he told Paso Robles Daily News. “We live here on-site full-time after selling our home of 23 years in Westlake Village where we raised our two sons.”
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