Hefner opens Playboy Mansion amid bankruptcy rumours

Hugh Hefner has fuelled reports that he is facing bankruptcy after opening the doors of his infamous Playboy Mansion to the public - for a fee.

Last month, Hefner was reportedly advised to dismiss employees in his Los Angeles and New York offices to avoid financial ruin.

Hefner's spokesperson Elizabeth Austin would neither confirm nor deny the financial problems at the time, stating: "It is our policy not to comment on corporate matters such as employee issues."

The Playboy boss has since extended an invitation to the exclusive parties held at the mansion, charging $5,000 (€3,678) to $25,000 ($18,392) a ticket, depending on the celebrities in attendance.

A company spokesperson denies Hefner's recent split from girlfriends Holly Madison and Kendra Wilkinson are related to his finances, adding the girls "are not even on the payroll. So, they would be the last to go".