Chandi Heffner, born Charlene Gail Heffner, is an American woman best known for her unusual relationship with billionaire heiress Doris Duke. Duke adopted Chandi as an adult in 1988 after the two developed a close relationship in Hawaii.
Their relationship later ended, and Chandi became involved in a dispute over Duke’s estate. She reportedly received a settlement of about $65 million in 1995. In later years, Chandi has been linked with animal welfare, charitable work, spirituality, and a private life in Hawaii.
Charlene Gail Heffner’s Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Charlene Gail Heffner |
| Known as | Chandi Heffner |
| Date of birth | August 26, 1953 (reported) |
| Age | 73 years old as of 2026, based on the reported birth date |
| Birthplace | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Father | William J. Heffner |
| Mother | Barbara “Bunny” Heffner (reported; sources differ on the name) |
| Known sibling | Claudia Heffner Peltz |
| Known for | Being the former adopted daughter of Doris Duke |
| Adopted by Doris Duke | 1988 |
| Relationship ended | Early 1990s |
| Duke estate settlement | About $65 million, reportedly in 1995 |
| Children | No publicly confirmed children |
| Known interests | Spirituality, animals, philanthropy |
| Residence | Hawaii (reported) |
Chandi Heffner’s Early Life
Chandi Heffner was born Charlene Gail Heffner in Baltimore, Maryland. Her birth date is widely reported as August 26, 1953, although detailed primary information about her early years is limited.
She grew up away from the wealthy and famous circles she later entered through Doris Duke.
As a young woman, Chandi developed an interest in spirituality, meditation, nature, and alternative ways of living. During the 1970s, she reportedly moved to Hawaii.
She was also reported to have spent time around the Hare Krishna movement. Her spiritual interests became an important part of her adult life.
Her Parents and Family
Chandi’s father is identified as William J. Heffner.
There is less clarity about her mother’s name. Some sources identify her as Bunny Heffner, while information about Chandi’s sister Claudia identifies their mother as Barbara Heffner. Bunny may have been a nickname, but this is not clearly established by reliable public records.
Chandi has at least one well-known sister, Claudia Heffner Peltz.
Some online sources name other sisters, including Holly McCloskey or Arden Cromwell, but the available sources do not agree. These names should therefore be treated cautiously.
Chandi Heffner and Claudia Heffner Peltz
Chandi’s sister Claudia Heffner Peltz is a former model who married billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz in 1985.
Claudia and Nelson have a large family. Their children include actress Nicola Peltz Beckham, making Chandi Nicola’s aunt.
Nicola is known for acting roles in projects such as Bates Motel and Transformers: Age of Extinction. She married Brooklyn Beckham, the son of David Beckham and Victoria Beckham, in 2022.
Chandi herself has remained much more private than some members of her extended family.
Her Education
Reliable public information about Chandi Heffner’s education is limited.
There are no widely confirmed details about the schools or colleges she attended or whether she earned a degree.
Why Is Charlene Gail Heffner Called Chandi?
Charlene became better known as Chandi during her spiritual journey.
Chandi is a name with roots in Hindu tradition and Sanskrit. It is associated with a powerful form of the divine feminine.
The name became the one most commonly used for her in reports about Doris Duke and her later life.
Her Life in Hawaii
Hawaii became an important part of Chandi’s life during the 1970s and later decades.
She reportedly went there while exploring spirituality and a simpler way of life. Her interests included meditation, nature, and personal spiritual development.
Hawaii was also where she eventually met Doris Duke. Duke owned Shangri La, her famous Honolulu estate, and spent considerable time on the islands.
How Did Chandi Heffner Meet Doris Duke?
Chandi met Doris Duke in Hawaii during the 1980s.
Accounts of their meeting say a belly-dancing instructor named Bobby Farrah helped bring them into contact. Chandi was reportedly recovering from a knee injury when Duke offered her a place to stay.
The two became close. They shared interests in spirituality, animals, healing, and other personal subjects.
Their relationship eventually became much more than a friendship.
Who Was Doris Duke?
Doris Duke was an American heiress and philanthropist. She was the daughter of tobacco and energy businessman James Buchanan Duke, founder of the Duke Endowment and a major benefactor of Duke University.
Doris inherited great wealth at a young age and became one of the best-known wealthy women in the United States.
She owned several major properties, including Shangri La in Honolulu, Rough Point in Newport, Rhode Island, and Duke Farms in New Jersey.
Duke had also experienced the loss of her only biological child. Her daughter Arden was born prematurely in 1940 and died shortly after birth.
That loss later became an important part of accounts explaining Duke’s attachment to Chandi.
Doris Duke’s Belief About Chandi and Her Daughter Arden
Reports about their relationship say Doris Duke came to believe that Chandi was connected spiritually to her deceased daughter, Arden.
Some accounts state that Duke believed Chandi was Arden reincarnated.
This was Duke’s reported personal or spiritual belief. It should not be treated as an established fact about Chandi.
The belief appears to have contributed to the unusually close mother-daughter relationship that developed between them.
Doris Duke Adopted Chandi as an Adult
In 1988, Doris Duke legally adopted Chandi Heffner as an adult.
Chandi was in her mid-30s at the time.
The adoption formally made Chandi Duke’s daughter. Because Duke controlled an enormous fortune, the decision also had possible inheritance consequences.
During the closest period of their relationship, Chandi spent time around Duke and her properties. Duke reportedly treated her as the daughter she had long wanted.
Chandi Heffner’s Reported $65 Million Settlement
Chandi’s dispute with the Duke estate was eventually settled.
In 1995, she reportedly received approximately $65 million.
The settlement gave her considerable financial independence, although it represented only a portion of Duke’s much larger estate.
The reported $65 million payment remains one of the most frequently mentioned financial facts about Chandi.
Her Relationship With James Burns
Chandi was also romantically linked to James Burns, who had worked as Doris Duke’s bodyguard.
Their relationship developed during the later period of Chandi’s connection with Duke.
Chandi and Burns eventually separated. Reports say their breakup later led to a palimony dispute.
Detailed and consistently reliable public information about their relationship is limited.
Is Chandi Heffner Married?
There is no clearly documented current husband or legal spouse for Chandi in the available information.
Her ceremony with Paul Reubens was a mock wedding rather than a legal marriage.
Her relationship with James Burns also ended.
Chandi has kept her later romantic life largely private.
Does Chandi Heffner Have Children?
There are no publicly confirmed children associated with Chandi Heffner in the available sources.
Some biography sites directly state that she has no children, but detailed primary information about her private family life is limited.
Her Career and Philanthropy
Chandi is often described online as a philanthropist and animal welfare advocate.
She is not widely known for a traditional public career in acting, modeling, entertainment, or business. Most public interest in her comes from her relationship with Doris Duke.
Her later activities have reportedly focused on animals, spirituality, and charitable causes.
She has also been linked with an organization called the CDH International Foundation, or CDHIF USA. Reports connect the organization with humanitarian and animal welfare projects, including work outside the United States.
Detailed independent information about the organization and Chandi’s exact role is limited.
Chandi Heffner’s Love for Animals
Animals have reportedly been a major part of Chandi’s later life.
She has been associated with caring for horses, donkeys, and other animals in Hawaii. Reports also connect her with animal rescue and welfare activities.
Her interest in animals fits with the quieter life she has maintained since the public disputes surrounding Doris Duke.
Where Is Chandi Heffner Now?
Chandi has long been associated with Hawaii.
Reports have connected her with a ranch in the Waimea area, where she has reportedly spent time caring for animals and supporting charitable causes.
She does not maintain the type of public profile normally associated with celebrities. Reliable recent information about her day-to-day activities is limited.
Chandi Heffner’s Net Worth
Chandi’s exact current net worth is not reliably known.
Some online sources estimate it at around $20 million, but there is no clear public financial evidence supporting that figure.
A more established part of her financial history is the reported settlement of approximately $65 million connected with the Doris Duke estate in 1995.
A large settlement decades ago does not show how much money a person currently owns, so the two figures should not be treated as the same thing.
Is Chandi Heffner on Social Media?
There are no widely confirmed official social media accounts for Chandi Heffner.
She has generally maintained a private lifestyle and does not appear to use social media as a major public platform.
Facts About Chandi Heffner
- Her birth name is Charlene Gail Heffner.
- She is better known as Chandi Heffner.
- She was reportedly born in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 26, 1953.
- She is the sister of Claudia Heffner Peltz.
- Actress Nicola Peltz Beckham is her niece.
- Chandi became interested in spirituality and moved to Hawaii as a young woman.
- She met billionaire heiress Doris Duke in Hawaii.
- Duke legally adopted Chandi as an adult in 1988.
- Duke reportedly believed Chandi had a spiritual connection to her daughter Arden, who died shortly after birth.
- Chandi and Duke later became estranged.
- After Duke died in 1993, Chandi became involved in a dispute connected with her estate.
- Chandi reportedly received a settlement of about $65 million in 1995.
- She took part in a mock wedding with Paul Reubens in 1989, but it was not a legal marriage.
- She was later romantically involved with James Burns.
- Her later life has been associated with Hawaii, spirituality, philanthropy, and animal welfare.
- Her exact current net worth is not publicly confirmed.
- She has no widely confirmed official social media accounts.
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