Playboy Debuts

Hugh Hefner published Playboy's inaugural issue in December 1953, purchasing a photo of Marilyn Monroe for its cover.

Hefner, a former Esquire copywriter, was inspired by the fantasy of the girl next door – and hit an untapped niche in the American market by publishing naked, full-color photos of women in an industry first.

The Bunny Makes Money

The initial launch was a smash success, with the magazine selling upwards of 1 million copies per month by the end of the 1950s, Business Insider reported. The revenue made it possible for Hefner to quickly expand the brand, keeping readers hooked with favorite features like "Playmate of the Month."

In this 1960 image, Hefner smiles with six lookalike honorees.

"I was always a dreamer and I worked to make the dream come true," Hefner told PEOPLE of creating an entertainment empire.