Fred Prouser/Reuters
An impending sale of the Playboy Mansion has allegedly fallen apart, TMZ reported Friday morning, because the buyer demanded too much access to the remaining years of Hugh Hefner’s life. 32-year-old Daren Metropoulos, a billionaire heir, was set to purchase the famed mansion for nearly $110 million, with the deal stipulating that Hefner could live out the rest of his life in the Beverly Hills estate. According to TMZ, however, Metropoulos demanded greater control, which Playboy felt would be too disruptive for Hefner. The deal ultimately fell apart on Thursday evening, and the house will go back on the market Monday.
Metropoulos’ firm, however, told The Daily Beast that that his purchase is moving forward as planned. “Gossip reports suggesting the deal has fallen apart are simply untrue,” a Friday statement read. “Concluding this complicated transaction is clearly in the interest of the sellers as well as Mr. Metropoulos, who has worked to respect Mr. Hefner’s wishes in this unusual situation, as both a neighbor and friend, and continues to look forward to serving as the next steward of this iconic property.”