Hugh Hefner lists his seven-bedroom mansion — next door to the Playboy mansion — in Los Angeles’ Holmby Hills area for $27.995M

Hugh Hefner and his estranged wife, Kimberley, have placed a seven-bedroom, 7,318-square-foot Holmby Hills, Calif. mansion — which sits next door to the Playboy mansion — that they own on the market for $27,995,000.

The Los Angeles Times’ Ann Brenoff yesterday broke the story of “Hef” and Kimberley’s listing of their personal (and family-friendly) residence, which sits at 500 S. Mapleton Drive in Holmby Hills, backing up to the Los Angeles Country Club.

Built in 1929, the Hefners’ English Manor-style mansion has seven baths, a two-story entry, a large living room with a fireplace, a large family room adjoining the dining room, a newly remodeled eat-in gourmet kitchen with a morning room and a butler’s pantry, two staff rooms (included in the seven-bedroom count), a library, original wood paneling, hand-painted walls, leaded-glass windows and a hand-carved staircase, according to public records, listing information and the Times. Outdoor features on the walled and gated 2.3-acre property include a large motor court, an outdoor terrace, rolling lawns, mature trees, a private pool area and room for a tennis court, according to public records and listing information.

The Hefners (while still together) purchased the property in 1996 for $6,700,000, according to public records (this is a figure that no other report out thus far on Hefner’s listing has been able to provide; Brenoff, in fact, got the date wrong altogether, erroneously reporting that “Hef” had bought the Mapleton Drive mansion in 1998). Reports are that “Hef” lives in the Playboy mansion itself next door (at 10236 Charing Cross Road) while Kimberley and the couple’s two sons (ages 17 and 18) live in this mansion that has just come up on the market.

No one really knows for sure why the Hefners are selling the mansion. Their listing agent told Brenoff that they want to unload the mansion because his and Kimberley’s two sons soon are off to college. As the Real Estalker noted today, however, earlier reports were that Hefner has been facing some financial problems.

Check out an online listing sheet for the mansion — complete with photos — here.