The news, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, came just weeks after the Playboy mansion went up for sale for $200 million — with founder Hugh Hefner still in it — and the appearance of the magazine's first non-nude issue.

Playboy chief executive Scott Flanders told CNN the possible sale "arose out of the interest in the sale of the mansion," and is being handled by the Los Angeles-based investment firm Moelis & Company.

"Previously we engaged them in the fall to grow the media business and to separately list the mansion," Flanders said. "And as part of that they had inquiries as to whether the company could be sold. And several well funded entities have expressed interest."