Who more exemplified the libertine lifestyle than the late, great Hugh Hefner?
Just that name brings forth the image of him in his smoking jacket with a few buxom and scantily clad ladies a lifetime his junior behind him.
It could be reasonably argued that his work single-handily sparked the American sexual revolution of the 60’s and 70’s. He had the ability to elevate the naked female body into a sophisticated and elegant tapestry of art.
But it was never just about the boobs.
Beyond the ladies, beyond the expensive cars and high-class cigars, and beyond all the rest of the glitz and glamour there was a message. That message was one of personal freedom. That individuals, and therefore society, should be free to choose what they want to do and how they live and to not be shackled by the way your parents, or anybody else, think you should behave.
“Progress necessarily requires the exchange of outdated ideas for new and better ones. By keeping open all lines of communication in our culture, every new idea—no matter how seemingly perverse, improper or peculiar, has its opportunity to be considered, to be challenged and ultimately to be accepted or rejected by society as a whole or by some small part of it. This is the important advantage that a free society has over a totalitarian, for in a free exchange of ideas, the best will ultimately win out.” – Playboy’s Philosophy
This philosophy, displayed in the much-praised articles of his magazine, vaulted Hef into his place as an American icon. Far more than just showcasing naked ladies would have done.
Hugh began his journey to change the minds of America when he left his job as a copywriter for Esquire magazine after they denied him a $5 raise in 1952. After raising $8,000 from investors, he started Playboy and eventually built a fortune that was estimated to be worth over $400,000,000 at its peak.
This sort of success is almost uniquely American. Hef imagined the life he wanted to live and made it real by becoming the persona in his dreams. Others wanted to be him and would pay him for a glimpse of his life. This money enabled him to continue to live that lifestyle. The whole concept is pure genius. I salute you, Hef.
Hef died last year, leaving an estate valued around $50 million. Still a fortune, but far lower than it once had been. Playboy had been in trouble for decades. Its success in diminishing American Puritanism opened the doors for a multitude of competitors. Competitors who wrote less and showed more. Then came technology, specifically the internet, in which Playboy never managed to gain traction in.
Still, Hef never changed his relaxed and carefree lifestyle.
So I asked myself, how much does it cost to live the life of an international, jet-setting Playboy/Playgirl? A pleasure-seeker who can spend the week in Prague, fly to London for the weekend, then end up in Lisbon before heading off to Switzerland to ski? Someone that even their friends or family can’t explain how they have the time, ability, and money to live such as they do?
What secrets do they know that the majority of people do not?
Believe it or not, there are many people that live like this – and no, they are not multi-millionaires like Hef.
Secret Number 1: They aren’t tied down.
To be able to travel whenever you want, you have to not be tied down. No spouse, no kids, a job that they can do anywhere at a time they choose. It’s hard to live the Playboy life when you only get two weeks of vacation per year or have to get the kids to school in the morning.
They answer to no one but themselves.
Secret Number 2: They live in Europe.
To Americans, all these European locations sound exotic. But to travel to another country in Europe is almost the same as heading to the next state over – both in time and expense. For an American to get to Europe it might cost a bit, but once you are there it is ridiculously cheap to travel around. A flight from Prague to Paris costs in the neighborhood of $70 or about a weeks worth of groceries. Add in some bargain last-minute hotel rooms or AirBnB rentals and it might not cost more than $500 for the week.
They have the flexibility to grab last-minute deals and can travel cheaply between exciting locales.
Secret Number 3: They own little and what they do own is an asset.
Some Playboys own an abode in multiple European countries, but instead of costing them money every month they support this lifestyle. How? The real estate was purchased with the intent to rent it out when they are not using it. So if they stay in that city, they use their property. When they are away, it is rented out. The management of which is often hired out for not too much at all. Income making machines. This strategy enables the income of the property to cover the mortgage and other expenses and then some.
Smart purchases make them a profit while they stay on permanent vacation.
Secret Number 4: They pay less in taxes.
In Portugal you can be a “non-habitual” resident and receive 10 years in which you pay no taxes on income earned outside of Portugal. That’s not the only country with a reduced income tax for non-domiciled residents. Ireland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Andorra, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Gibraltar, and possibly others have similar offers. Less taxes paid means more money to have fun with.
Of course, Americans get screwed here. Only two countries in the world require taxes on your personal income whether not you ever live in the country - the USA and Eritrea. Still, passive income from real estate and dividends have tax advantages and reduced rates.
Secret Number 5: They chose the unconventional.
What is luxury? Is it something everyone else wants or is it something that is expensive and therefore out of the range of most people to afford?
Why does a London or New York City ‘ritz’ area apartment cost $3+ MILLION dollars? Is it really better than other places or are most people too unimaginative to think outside the box?
To a Playboy of good, but limited, means these places are too obvious. You want to be mysterious and different, don’t you? Hugh Hefner wasn’t just wealthy, he was wealthy with STYLE.
That’s why a Playboy would choose a much less obvious, but still full of amenities, a city like Prague or Budapest to spend more of his time in. You get all the fun for a whole lot less money. For under 100,000 euros you can OWN a fancy flat near the city center - in Manhattan that might rent you a parking spot for a year or two.
You save thousands every month and your enchanting urban locale shrouds you in an enigmatic veil. You can now afford those amazing hand-made $1,000 crocodile-skin cowboy boots. A choice that is far more attainable than some overpriced and run-of-the-mill luxury item from Gucci.
Speaking of mills, why settle for an ordinary house? Find an old windmill or watermill somewhere in those less expensive places and renovate it. I recently saw an old watermill for sale in Portugal for less than 50,000. Renovate it for 20,000 or so and now you have a unique abode. And when it comes time to rent it out, your property will stand out from the crowd. The less obvious and little heard of choice is the better deal when you have just a little imagination.
The same way of thinking goes for cars too. Why drive around a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Bugatti? Those are for shmucks that can't think for themselves and need to be told what is cool. You, my friend, can grab more attention for far, far, less.
Ever heard of a Morgan Three-Wheeler? You can buy a used one from a private party for around $30,000 or about 1/60th the price of a Bugatti. A Morgan is just as luxurious but even more of a head-turner. And when you aren't using it, have it up for daily rent.
Don't want the obvious. The obvious is overplayed. Be rare or unique.
The same goes for clothes. Why dress in a luxury brand when you can get a bespoke suit made from the finest materials for a tenth of the cost of something from Savile Row? Head to Istanbul or Ankara and you will see what I am talking about.
What Does This Lifestyle Cost?
The ability to do and go when and where you please will require some financial backing, but not as much as you may think. What you want is the vast majority of your wealth earning you income while you sleep. Passive income that comes in continuously whether you are there or not.
I read that Hef had a monthly income between $200,000 and $300,000 per month in his final years. You don't need that much. You can have everything you need living the lifestyle I outlined above with a monthly income of $6,000 to $8,000.
A life of carefree and luxurious living for what the average American family brings in, except yours doesn't require you to wake up at 6 am to sit in traffic for 90 minutes Monday thru Friday for 40 years.
Take $1, $1.5 million and put it into smart income producing assets and you would never have to work again.
Sound good? Now just ask yourself how you start to build those assets.
How much is between you and the jet-setting international Playboy lifestyle?
Images courtesy of Newsweek.
I also imagine how the Playboy lives that life. This style is most preferred by young people but I could always desagree with that. I have a friend whose brain was just on clothes, a simple opportunity of money would take him to the market for a new clothe style.
On my behalf, I try to see the far I can go with my self not even planning the girl friends expenses or unprepared visitors. I do also reduce taking some time with friends so as to create more time on working on my dreams.
Well, if the play boy style brings more money in the business I will but if it's for fun then I can't even take a look.
It's not for everyone, but I wanted to show those that might want this that it is within reach if you set it as your big goal in life.
Right @jona12. @getonthetrain is just showing us it doesn't take a lot to have it for those of us who were overrating it. Personally I love to make every second of my time on earth count with happiness. And my doors have been opened to start living a playboy life.
Ahahaha....true @musamalijames.
I think there is a lot to be said for working and adding value to the world instead of just playing around. I'm not saying Hef didn't add value, but the playboy lifestyle does seem like a bit of a waste of time to me. I'd personally rather do something that created real change in the world and make it a better place to be for people, animals and nature.
Everyone has different goals and as long as they are not hurting or stealing from someone else I say live how you dream.
Hugh Hefner rented his playboy mansion for only $100 per month.
He, personally paid $100 per month because Playboy Enterprises owned the mansion. BUT that is what wealthy people do - control but not own. You are the president/CEO of your business, which owns the property, which is rented to you for free as part of compensation or for very little.
Yep, to the individual, a house is a liability. It costs you to maintain, and it costs you in property taxes just to have roof over your head. But, to a corporation a house is an asset. You can deduct depreciation, you can deduct all of the maintenance, you can deduct the cleaning / cooking staff. And that is just the stuff you can deduct off the taxes. Saying nothing about what you can make off of it.
my aim is to make a million before 26 and invest them in some smart investments and let the money work for me. goal is to retire rich retire young
Well, you better start now. Because smart investments have to be found or created.
Fortunately, cryptos are going to be really hot for the next few years.
But, they mean that everything we think of as an investment today will not be a decade from now.
So, start learning to see investments opportunities.
Good luck in your big goal! What steps are you taking to reach it? Without too much time you must be 100% dedicated and work on it every single day.
@getonthetrain this is why STEEMIT is such a good thing. Lot's of people in my opinion will be very wealthy if they create Content and Comment as well as invest in STEEM............
True that, us early adopters will have the advantage should it gain large adoption.
What you say is true, you can buy many things for lower costs if you are not interested in boasting product brands. I apply that to my life, yet it is difficult to do something similar to what Hefner did, I wish I could, haha.
Oh, I don't care about brands myself. I do like quality though, but I take it where I can find it.
Wow.. you've just broken every bit of living a luxurious lifestyle to us @getonthetrain. This is by far a small budget compared to what I was presuming it to be. We keep ourselves down; envying people living this life. And here it is.. now broken down. Nothing should stop us from having a playboy lifestyle if we decide to live it.. well ofcourse leaving aside people with families which is a huge commitment one should respect.
And we are glad that cryptocurrency has been brought closer to us with the huge publicity.. we are currently in a dip; a right time to put that huge stack of cash in alt coins and start making money while sleeping.
Hugh Hefner died a happy man.. I don't think he had any regrets. And he showed us how to live happy which I believe is cheap and affordable.
The clothing, the cars, the travelling.. all this only needs style not money to live comfortably.
You got it, James! If this is a life you want, set it as your big goal in life and work work work to make it happen.
That's a great motivation. Work hard play hard
The wealthier people also work continuously, even in leisure they do it with networking and deals. We must never slow or stop, momentum is the only way to build a bigger or better anything.
Admirable, but to me it is ok to rest or slow down as long as you remain focused on what you want.
Interesting break down of such a life, hugh hef knew something about living. I think such a life is worth it.
I have been mesmerized by your point three.
Owning little and all what he owned mostly was his assets. I understood something as you explained it below.
And yes living such a luxurious life can be very possible with all of what hugh hef used to live for.
Thanks for this one @getonthetrain
I am glad it has given you something to think about.
Although that does sound appealing to be able to jet around and do whatever you want, whenever you want, I'm still happily married and wouldn't give her up for the world. Even with all the money, I'd be lonely without my wife. Maybe we'll still get to visit Prague though. :)
Oh, I get the message.
(Your wife is going to read this eventually) :D
Ha ha ha!
Count me in @getonthetrain :)
Seriously though I was my owm man up until I was 39 ( when I was married) and no kids til I was 41.
That Lifestyle is enticing. But that being said having my family with my kids have outdone all of my exciting bachelor adventures ( there were many pure ones and some very well ...'unpure' ones lol) by a country mile.
But thanks for letting me day dream for a second or two with your Post :)
Haha, I never lived the full Playboy life myself - but I did have a small taste for a few years :D