Doris Duke’s adopted daughter, Chandi Heffner, was disinherited.
Doris Duke, the tobacco heiress and philanthropist, adopted Chandi Heffner in 1988 when Heffner was in her 30s. The adoption was unusual due to Heffner’s age, and it was reported that Duke saw her as a companion and someone who could potentially take care of her in her old age. However, their relationship deteriorated over time, and Duke ultimately disinherited Heffner.
The circumstances leading to the disinheritance were complex. Duke and Heffner’s relationship began to sour, and there were allegations of manipulation and abuse. Heffner claimed that she had been promised a significant portion of Duke’s estate, but after a falling out, Duke changed her will to exclude Heffner. The legal battles that ensued after Duke’s death in 1993 were lengthy and highly publicized. Heffner contested the will, which led to a settlement in 1996; the terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but it was reported that Heffner received a fraction of what she might have inherited had she remained in Duke’s will. The Duke estate was estimated to be worth over $1 billion at the time of her death, and the bulk of it went to the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.