| Net Worth | $20,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Barbara Lynn Klein |
| Date of Birth/Age | January 28, 1950 (age 69) |
| Source of wealth | Playboy Model, Recording Artist, Actress, Interior Decorator |
| Height | 5’3” |
| Country of origin | USA |
| State/City of origin | New York City |
| Last Updated | 2019 |
Net Worth
Barbi Benton’s net worth is $20 million.
How Did Barbi Benton Make Her Money?
Barbi Benton has made her money from modeling, acting and singing. She is known for her work as a Playboy model and a few hit country songs.
As an icon of the 1970s, Benton embodied many men’s ideal of feminine beauty. She is best known for her work in Playboy magazine, where she appeared on four covers, dozens of photographic features and frequent photo essays.
She was a recurring guest on many popular TV shows and had a successful singing career.
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Benton was in a long-term relationship with Hugh Hefner of Playboy fame, but she was always more than just another girlfriend.
Benton was able use that relationship to her advantage, cementing her place in Hefner’s business dealings and forging a lifelong friendship with him.
Barbi Benton Quick Facts
- She was born January 2, 1950, in New York City.
- Her real name is Barbara Lynn Klein.
- She has been married once and has two children.
Early Life
Benton was born in New York City, but her family moved to California when she was still a baby. She graduated from Rio Americano High School in Sacramento.
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Career
Start of Career
Benton began modeling at age 16. After she graduated from high school, she enrolled in college at the University of California. At age 18, she was cast in the Playboy-produced television show Playboy After Dark.
Partnership with Playboy
The job at Playboy After Dark was a huge turning point for Benton, both personally and professionally.
At the time, Hugh Hefner was the host of the Playboy After Dark show, while Benton played an extra. Hefner promoted her to co-host of the show after seeing that she would be a huge draw for viewers.
Benton quickly became the reigning star of Hefner’s enterprises. She was a favorite among Playboy‘s editors and readers.
She appeared nude in double spreads in the magazine in 1970, 1973 and 1975.
Hefner also began dating Benton. He increased her visibility and authority at Playboy Enterprises while he was dating her. He also bought the famous Playboy mansion in 1974 at her insistence.
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A Great Partnership
Benton and Hefner lived together from 1969 to 1976. They were considered great business partners as well as lovers, who together improved Playboy‘s public image and added money-making sidelines to the business.
Even after their breakup, Hefner and Benton remained close friends and enjoyed a warm working relationship. In an interview shortly before his death,
Hefner said that meeting Benton had been one of the best things that ever happened to him. He said that his only regret was that he didn’t marry her.
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Acting Career
In 1970, Benton began making appearances on the popular variety show Hee Haw, which featured comedic skits and performances by top country music singers.
Benton began appearing in short skits and soon became a regular cast member. She was on the show for four seasons.
After that, Benton got acting roles in the movie The Naughty Cheerleader in 1970 and became a regular guest on TV shows that included The Bobby Vinton Show, The Love Boat, Sonny and Cher, Fantasy Island and many others.
Benton did get a starring TV role in the 1977 show Sugar Time, but it was cancelled after one season.
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Recording Career
Perhaps inspired by her time on Hee Haw, Benton decided to pursue a career as a country singer. In 1975, she released the single “Brass Buckles,” which rose to number five on the Billboard country charts.
In 1976, she recorded “Ain’t That Just the Way,” one of her biggest hits. It was a hit again when it was covered by Leticia McNeal in 1996.
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Current Status
Benton has retired from show business, saying that she wants to focus on her family and her personal interests. She married George Gradow, a real estate developer, in 1979.
According to Benton, Gradow was a confirmed bachelor before he met her. One day, one of his employees asked him when he was going to get married and Gradow replied, “When I meet someone who looks like Barbi Benton.” As it turned out, the employee knew Benton’s mother and arranged an introduction.
The couple dated for a few months before Gradow asked her to marry him. They have been together ever since. They have two children, Alexander and Arianna. The family lives in Aspen and Los Angeles.
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Interesting Facts About Barbi Benton
Her mother was a realtor who wrote the contract when Hefner bought the Playboy mansion.
Favorite Quotes From Barbi Benton
“Being with Hugh, I know that there’s a double standard when it comes to the rules. I have always thought that a woman should be able to do everything she wants, just like a man should, but he was brought up in a different time where it’s not acceptable for women to run around. I have accepted that. I’m not naturally promiscuous anyway, so I probably wouldn’t do anything even if he said it was all right.”
“I don’t think the Playboy museum should be turned into a museum, because it is a fabulous home. If it were a museum, like Graceland, a lot more people could enjoy it, but it would never be the same.”
