In addition to the flagship magazine in the United States, special nation-specific versions of Playboy are published worldwide, including those by licensees, such as Dirk Steenekamp's DHS Media Group. (PEI), with a presence in nearly every medium. Known 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. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. Playboy is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. For other uses, see Playboy (disambiguation). For the lifestyle that inspired the magazine's name, see Playboy lifestyle.
