Business leader of Playboy decries California as unfriendly to entrepreneurship, relocating company's main office to Miami Beach instead.
After more than six decades in Los Angeles, Playboy is making a move to Miami Beach. The iconic brand, founded by Hugh Hefner in 1953, is set to be fully moved into its new headquarters by next year.
The decision to relocate was facilitated by a mutual friend and was made possible by the hard work of Playboy's brokers, who curated the vision, negotiated the terms, and finalized the deal. The new headquarters will be located in The RIVANI penthouse, a "Class X" ultra-high-end luxury office property in Miami Beach.
The move is part of a larger migration of influential companies leaving L.A. and New York for South Florida. The key reasons for this shift include financial incentives such as no state income tax, a growing business ecosystem, and Miami’s emerging status as a hub for business and lifestyle opportunities.
Miami offers grants and support through organizations like the Miami Downtown Development Authority, making it attractive for companies to establish operations there. The city serves as a gateway to Latin America and is becoming a key market across sectors including sports, finance, and technology, with firms like Blackstone, Citadel, and Microsoft relocating or expanding there.
The new Playboy headquarters will also house a content team and a significant licensing team, as the brand continues to pivot towards lifestyle, fashion, brand licensing, and sexual wellness. The magazine ceased regular publication in 2020 and exists now as a digital-first platform.
One of the most exciting aspects of the move is the development of a new and reimagined Playboy Club in Miami. The club will include a restaurant and exclusive members-only space, inspired by the storied Playboy Mansion. Playboy CEO Ben Kohn stated that Miami’s pro-business stance was a factor in the decision to relocate from California.
According to developer Robert Rivani, Miami Beach is a global hub for culture, creativity, and business, making it an ideal location for Playboy’s next chapter. The coastal lifestyle, luxury amenities, and growing cultural scene appeal to families and professionals, which helps attract and retain talent. While New York is recovering post-pandemic, many companies find Miami’s environment more favorable for hybrid or in-person work, contributing to the migration.
The move of Playboy's headquarters is a significant milestone for the brand, and it is looking forward to its new chapter in Miami Beach. The company also plans to build multimedia content studios in Miami Beach to support its growing creator network. The first issue of Playboy featured Marilyn Monroe and sold more than 50,000 copies, and it is exciting to think about what the future holds for this legendary brand in its new home.
References
- Miami Herald
- Forbes
- Bloomberg
- CNBC
- Business Insider
