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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5


                   [LETTERHEAD OF PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES, INC.]


                                 June 27, 1995


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                 I am the Executive Vice President, Law and Administration, and
General Counsel to Playboy Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the
issuance of up to 26,250 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's Class B Common
Stock, $.01 par value, issuable under the Company's 1995 Stock Incentive Plan
(the "Plan") pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 1995 (the
"Registration Statement").

                 I am familiar with the proceedings taken and to be taken by
the Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the
Shares, and for the purposes of this opinion, have assumed such proceedings
will be timely completed in the manner presently proposed.  In addition, I have
examined such documents and such questions of law and fact, including an
examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to my
satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and instruments as I have
deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

                 Based on the foregoing, it is my opinion that the Shares to be
issued or sold pursuant to the Plan have been duly authorized, and that such
stock, when issued or sold in accordance with the terms thereof, will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                 I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and I further consent to the use of my name under
the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus which is part of the Registration
Statement.

                                                         Respectfully submitted,



                                                            Howard Shapiro, Esq.