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Hugh Hefner’s Ex-Wife Kimberley Speaks Out Against Crystal Hefner on January 27, 2024 at 2:06 am Us Weekly

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Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

Hugh Hefner’s second wife, Kimberley Conrad, is speaking out against Crystal Hefner, claiming she’s trying to make “a quick buck” badmouthing the late Playboy founder.

“We should be wary of those who try to destroy things because they are no longer benefiting from them,” Conrad, who was married to Hugh from 1989 to 2011, said in a statement to TMZ on Friday, January 26. (Conrad shared sons Marston and Cooper with Hugh).

Crystal, for her part, was married to Hugh, who was 60 years her senior, from 2012 until his death at age 91 in 2017.

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“As a few people speak their version of their idea of events in hopes of riding a wave of headline relevance, and making a quick buck, we should all ask ourselves whether we want to live in an environment where people refuse to take accountability and use words loosely like ‘force’ and ‘survive’ to describe choices they made willingly at a certain point in their own lives,” Conrad continued, claiming Crystal received “notoriety, opportunity and money” during her relationship with Hugh.

Related: Hugh Hefner and Crystal Hefner’s Relationship Timeline

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Hugh Hefner’s love life was unconventional, but his marriage to Crystal Hefner seemed to normalize him ahead of his September 2017 death. The Playboy mogul was married twice before he and Crystal wed in December 2012 and was the father of four grown children. While he and Crystal had a rocky road to the altar, […]

In the years following Hugh’s death, Crystal and many other former Playmates, including Girls Next Door castmembers Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt, have spoken out about their time with Hugh.

Conrad fired back at the negative stories about her late ex-husband, saying, “If you want to talk about exploitation, this is exactly what these women have done with Hef in his later years and at the end of his life.”

Crystal released her memoir, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself, on January 23.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 24: Hugh Hefner (L) and model Crystal Hefner attend the annual Halloween Party, hosted by Playboy and Hugh Hefner, at the Playboy Mansion on October 24, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Playboy) Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Playboy

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Amid the book’s release, she talked about feeling “trapped” during her life at the Playboy mansion, telling Today that her dynamic with Hugh was “weird and it was hard. Looking back, he did use me and manipulate me for his own gain in every way.”

As far as why she waited seven years after Hugh’s death to release her book, Crystal said she needed “time to reflect.”

“I’ve been in a lot of therapy trying to figure it out,” she told NPR on January 24. “Having issues dating now and reflecting back, I’m like things affected me more than I realized, being there in that bubble for a decade. And a lot of people followed our lives, and so I figured I need to get these thoughts down. I need to, you know, write this for them, write this for myself to heal. And hopefully it can help other people.”

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Related: Hugh Hefner’s Dating Life Through the Years

Hugh Hefner, who died on Wednesday, September 27, at age 91 lived a lavish bachelor life as founder of Playboy and found love along the way — pics

Crystal said she hopes to help people in “abusive relationships” and teach young women about “value and self-worth.”

“I know that the Playboy Mansion is a very unique, different place, but some of the lessons are universal,” she continued. “And I think it’s important ’cause Hef controlled the narrative. And at a certain point you realize that you’re losing your own identity and you’re losing yourself. After a while, it eats at you internally.”

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Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images Hugh Hefner’s second wife, Kimberley Conrad, is speaking out against Crystal Hefner, claiming she’s trying to make “a quick buck” badmouthing the late Playboy founder. “We should be wary of those who try to destroy things because they are no longer benefiting from them,” Conrad, who was married to Hugh from 1989 

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Miley Cyrus Is Engaged to Maxx Morando

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Miley Cyrus is officially off the market: the pop superstar is engaged to musician Maxx Morando after four years together, and the speculation about “that ring” has finally been put to rest. The engagement caps a quietly steady relationship that has unfolded mostly out of the spotlight, marking a new chapter for Miley after years of highly public romances.

Engagement finally confirmed

Reports from major entertainment outlets confirm that Cyrus and Morando are engaged following her recent red-carpet appearance in Los Angeles.

Observers noticed a new diamond ring on her left-hand ring finger, and sources close to the singer have since confirmed that the jewelry is indeed an engagement ring. The news comes after days of online buzz and fan speculation, which began almost as soon as photos from the event hit social media.

The love story with Maxx Morando

Maxx Morando is a drummer and musician who has performed with bands like The Regrettes and has also worked as a producer and collaborator behind the scenes. He and Miley were first linked in late 2021, reportedly after meeting through mutual friends and hitting it off on a low-key first date that eventually grew into a long-term relationship. The pair have kept things relatively private, appearing together at select fashion shows, award events, and premieres rather than turning their romance into constant social-media content.

That very on-trend engagement ring

The ring that set the internet on fire features a cushion-cut diamond set on a chunky yellow gold band, a bold, fashion-forward design that fits Cyrus’s eclectic style. The piece is reported to be by designer Jacquie Aiche, whose jewelry is frequently worn by celebrities and known for mixing bohemian influences with luxury materials. Commentators note that the thick band and substantial stone are in line with the current trend toward statement engagement rings that feel modern and personal rather than traditional and dainty.

Fans react to Miley’s new chapter

Longtime fans who have watched Miley grow from Disney Channel star to Grammy-winning artist see this engagement as another milestone in her evolution. On social platforms, many have highlighted how different this relationship feels compared with her past, pointing to the couple’s low-key approach and shared creative interests as signs of a more grounded partnership. Others are already speculating about wedding plans, guest lists, and whether the singer might channel her “Flowers” era energy into a bridal look that breaks all the rules.

What this means for Miley’s image

Cyrus has spent the last few years redefining herself musically and personally, from the success of “Flowers” to acclaimed live performances and a more polished public image. This engagement to Morando reinforces that arc, presenting her as an artist who has found balance between rebellion and stability, independence and partnership. While no wedding details have been announced yet, the announcement alone ensures Miley and Maxx will remain at the center of pop culture conversations for months to come.

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Mariah Carey’s One Holiday Hit Pays her $3.3 Million a Year

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Mariah Carey did not just land a Christmas hit; she locked in a seasonal paycheck for life. Every year, All I Want for Christmas Is You is estimated to pull in somewhere between 2.5 and 3.3 million dollars in royalties, from streaming, radio, licensing, and all those store playlists that flip her on the second the Halloween decorations come down. Over three decades, that adds up to tens of millions tied to a single song, turning one holiday anthem into a textbook example of how a perfectly timed pop track can become a retirement plan in glitter.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and Santa Claus present pop superstar Mariah Carey with a framed certificate honoring her induction into the 2023 Library of Congress National Recording Registry for “All I Want for Christmas is You,” December 14, 2023. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress. Note: Privacy and publicity rights for individuals depicted may apply.

What keeps it so sticky is how audiences respond to it emotionally. Fans describe the song as an instant mood-lifter: the kind of track that makes people abandon their carts in Target, sing in the dairy aisle, or scream the chorus in the car like a full-blown music video moment.

People love the mix of old-school Motown-style production, sleigh bells, and Mariah’s big, joyful vocals—it feels nostalgic without sounding dated, and romantic without being corny to most listeners.

For a lot of millennials and Gen Z, hearing that opening piano riff is the unofficial signal that the holidays have “officially started.”

Of course, the obsession is loud enough that the backlash is, too—but even the complaints prove its impact. Some listeners say they are tired of hearing it everywhere, from October onward, but that is partly because it dominates every Christmas playlist, radio rotation, and TikTok trend. Whether people are passionately belting it out or dramatically rolling their eyes, the engagement keeps the streams flowing—and the royalties stacking. Love it or hate it, All I Want for Christmas Is You has become the soundtrack to December, and Mariah collects a festive multimillion-dollar “thank you” every single year.

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How The Grinch Became The Richest Christmas Movie Ever

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The Grinch didn’t just steal Christmas—he stole the box office. The 2018 animated film The Grinch turned holiday chaos into serious cash, grossing around $540 million worldwide on a modest $75 million budget, making it the highest‑grossing Christmas movie of all time. That is more than seven times its production cost, which is the kind of holiday return every studio dreams about.

Meanwhile, the 2000 live‑action How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey laid the groundwork for this green empire. That version pulled in roughly $345–347 million worldwide on a $123 million budget, turning a prickly Dr. Seuss villain into a perennial box‑office player and a meme‑ready holiday icon. The nostalgia around Carrey’s performance is a big part of why audiences were ready to show up again almost two decades later.​

The Money Behind The Mayhem

The 2018 film did not just earn big—it earned smart.

It opened to more than $$67 million domestically in its first weekend and kept playing steadily through November and December, ultimately pulling in about $272 million in the U.S. and roughly $267 million internationally.

Holiday timing, family‑friendly branding, and the Illumination animation style (the same studio behind Despicable Me) helped it become a go‑to choice for parents seeking something safe, colorful, and chaos‑free for kids.

Then there is the profit. Trade estimates peg the film’s net profit in the neighborhood of nearly $185 million once theatrical revenue, home entertainment, and TV/streaming deals are baked in. That is before counting years of reruns, licensing, and holiday programming packages—every December, the Grinch gets another quiet deposit while everyone else is wrapping gifts.

Grinch vs. Everyone: Who’s Really On Top?

Here is how the Grinch stacks up against other Christmas heavyweights by worldwide box office:

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FilmYearWorldwide Gross (approx.)Notes
The Grinch (animated)2018$510–540 millionHighest‑grossing Christmas movie ever
Home Alone1990~$476 millionLongtime champ, now second place
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (live‑action)2000~$345–347 millionBuilt the modern Grinch brand
The Polar Express2004~$315 millionHoliday staple, trails both Grinch movies

Different sources list slightly different totals, but they all agree: the 2018 Grinch sits at the top of the Christmas money mountain.

Why The Grinch Keeps Printing Money

The secret sauce is that the Grinch is more than a movie—he is a business model. Every version of this character hits a different emotional lane: Jim Carrey’s 2000 Grinch is pure chaotic energy and quotable nostalgia, while the 2018 Grinch is softer, cuter, and perfectly engineered for modern families and global audiences. Together, they keep the character relevant across generations, which is exactly what studios want from an evergreen holiday IP.

On top of box office and home sales, the character feeds theme‑park attractions, holiday events, branded specials, apparel, toys, and seasonal marketing campaigns. The Grinch went from “I hate Christmas” to “I own Christmas,” quietly turning grouchiness into one of the most profitable holiday brands on the planet.

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