Tough times at the Playboy Mansion

Times are tough at the Playboy mansion. Hugh Hefner has taken out a restraining order against a man who twice crashed his car into the gates of the mansion. And now there is word in the Los Angeles Business Journal of possible cutbacks and new revenue-generating ideas at the mansion:

In the last few months he’s resorted to selling tickets to his private parties at the Gothic Tudor estate, according to a person close to Hefner. The mansion’s hedonistic grounds have long been rented out for corporate events, but Hefner’s private parties have been free to those invited. Now, John and Jane Q. Public can buy their way in to some of those events -– albeit for a hefty price. Tickets to parties hosted by Hefner sell for $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the event and celebrity guest list. Tickets to this year’s Halloween party, for example, which in the past has drawn celebrities such as Paris Hilton, are starting at $10,000.

And to make matters worse, Hefner and his "first lady" Holly Madison appear to have split up. But apparently the reality TV show will go on.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Getty Images