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- [00:00]
Sachi Cole
A heads up to our listeners. This episode describes instances of domestic violence. Please listen with care.
- [00:08]
Bernard Lafferty
Wonder.
- [00:13]
Sachi Cole
Sarah, are there any inheritances due to you in the next decade or two? Perhaps you'd like to share with the class?
- [00:20]
Sarah Hagie
I mean, I hope not, because that means someone would be dead, but doesn't have to be someone you like. Yeah, I love anyone who would give me inheritance.
- [00:29]
Sachi Cole
Okay. Well, I mean, I've asked my mom for her wedding rings despite being, you know, famously divorced, but I really think I could pull them off.
- [00:36]
Sarah Hagie
Absolutely. You could give me one.
- [00:39]
Sachi Cole
I'll think about it. Well, I ask because today's story is about a great fortune that ruined almost all of one woman's relationships, but made one man's life a lot more extravagant. It's April 1993, and Doris Duke is laying in bed in a private hospital suite in Beverly Hills. She's 80 years old, 6ft tall, and weighs just 92 pounds. And Doris has really lived. She inherited a massive fortune at just 12 years old. She spent decades jetting around the world, palling around with people like Scamflancers alum Imelda Marcos, marrying international playboys and capturing the attention of the tabloids. But now Doris is out of gas. She's spent the last few years in and out of the hospital for various injuries, strokes, chronic anemia, and even depression. At this stage of her life, Doris depends on a small circle of people to help her maintain even a shadow of her former lifestyle. And no one is more important than the man at her side. Her loyal butler, Bernard Lafferty. Bernard is in his late 40s with a round face and a blonde ponytail and a diamond stud in his left ear. He's one of the only people Doris feels that she can really trust. That trust is why Doris has invited someone else to the hospital today. Her lawyer. Doris wants to change her will and name Bernard as the executor of her estate. This is a big decision. Bernard won't just run a $1.2 billion charitable foundation. He'll also receive a $5 million fee, plus half a million dollars a year for life. Sure, Bernard didn't finish grade school, and he can barely read or write. But Doris has been burned again and again by friends and confidants who keep letting her down. She trusts Bernard, and she's confident in her decision.
- [02:35]
Sarah Hagie
You know, every time I hear a story like this, I wish to have the vibe of someone like Bernard. Maybe where, like, someone will just want to give me millions of dollars.
- [02:43]
Sachi Cole
Yeah. Again and again, Sarah, you and I wish we could be better scam artists through this show.
- [02:48]
Sarah Hagie
It just hasn't happened yet. Even if I tried my best to manipulate someone, I couldn't ever get this far.
- [02:53]
Sachi Cole
Yeah, me neither. Well, Doris is sure, but other people might have questions. That's why her lawyer asks if he can film Doris signing the papers. He wants to make sure that there's evidence that she's making this decision with a sound mind. But Doris says no. She's never liked being photographed, and she definitely doesn't want the world to see how old and frail she is now. So instead, the lawyer asks if she knows where she is. She names the hospital and answers. To the lawyer's satisfaction, they raise her bed to the upright position. The lawyer places the new will on her lap, and Doris signs. For more than 60 years, Doris Fortune has loomed over her as a corrupting force, warping relationships and poisoning intimacy. Bernard is simply the last most successful person to stake a claim to it. And while Doris believes she's finally settled the question of her estate, she's actually set the stage for a legal battle that will threaten to eclipse her legacy long after she's gone.
- [03:59]
Sarah Hagie
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- [04:07]
Jennifer Garner
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- [04:39]
Sachi Cole
From Wondry. I'm Sachi Kol.
- [04:41]
Sarah Hagie
And I'm Sarah Hagie.
- [04:42]
Sachi Cole
And this is Scamfluencers.
- [04:45]
Bernard Lafferty
Come and give me your attention. I won't ever learn my lesson.
- [04:49]
Sarah Hagie
Turn my speakers to 11.
- [04:50]
Bernard Lafferty
I feel like a legend.
- [04:53]
Sachi Cole
Doris Duke was a mysterious socialite, born into unimaginable wealth and privilege, pursued by society figures, fortune hunters, and even a dictator or two. But in the final fraught years of her life, Doris became the center of a tug of war between two of her closest confidants. Her butler, Bernard Lafferty, and her adoptive daughter. Though Bernard emerged victorious, his ruthless pursuit of Doris favor and her fortune left his reputation in shambles after her death. In the end, it's Bernard's fight to hold onto the money and his sanity that drives his story to A tragic end. This is Bernard Lafferty, the billionaire butler legend. Doris Duke might have chosen Bernard Lafferty to execute her will, but there's really only been one truly important man in her her father. James Buchanan Duke, known as Buck was a larger than life industrialist with a swashbuckling reputation and a ruthless business instinct. He made his fortune by pioneering the mass production of cigarettes. By the time Doris is born in 1912, Buck is 55 years old and her mother is 43. So Doris has old parents. Buck is a workaholic, but he's also a devoted father to his only child. He builds her a palace on fifth Avenue in Manhattan. He's fiercely protective and has Doris watched constantly by private guards. For her part, young Doris is the ultimate daddy's girl. She writes him letters that he slips into his pocket before work and kisses several times throughout the day.
- [06:31]
Sarah Hagie
Would it shock you to tell you that I was this little girl once and my dad wasn't even building me a palace? It would not shock me, honestly.
- [06:40]
Sachi Cole
That feels right and pure. But in 1925, when Doris is just 12 years old, Buck suddenly collapses. And while they have the best doctor's money can buy, it's not enough. Buck recognizes that he's leaving Doris with more than a huge fortune. Soon she too will face all the same sycophants and opportunists who will want a piece of it. So on his deathbed, he gives Doris advice that will define the rest of her life. Trust no one.
- [07:11]
Sarah Hagie
Listen, I'm not one to criticize a man on his deathbed, but if I were to edit his statement, I think that's a scary thing to say to a 12 year old. I mean, she should be more aware of who she should trust. But trust no one is scary to hear.
- [07:26]
Sachi Cole
Yeah, it's pretty brutal. Doris is devastated by her father's death and afterward her life becomes even more sheltered. Doris, mother Nanalene takes complete control and the two of them don't really get along. By Doris, late teens. Nataleen wants her to focus on finding the right husband, while Doris wants to follow her own passions, like clog dancing. By this point, Doris is a real prize and not just because of her fortune. Here's a photo of her in her early 20s.
- [07:58]
Sarah Hagie
Yeah, I'm familiar with her just because she's like a big name and I feel like her name's on buildings and stuff and foundations and whatever, but I had no idea she was this beautiful. This is like a photo of an old timey actress. She's a hottie She's a hot woman. This is a beautiful black and white portrait of her and a stunning dress. Like, if you showed me this and said she was a famous actress, I'd be like, of course she was.
- [08:21]
Sachi Cole
Yeah, she looks amazing. And in 1933, when Doris is 21, she finally gains access to the first part of her inheritance. $10 million or nearly $250 million in today's money. And two years later, she finds a way to follow her passions and piss off her mom. His name is Jimmy Cromwell. Jimmy is a good looking, bed hopping, divorced socialite whose family lost its fortune in the Great Depression. He's 16 years older than Doris, with short hair, a square jaw and a very high impression of himself. Here's a picture of Jimmy from around this time.
- [08:59]
Sarah Hagie
It's a photo of him in a boxing ring. He's wearing those short shorts. He looks quite fit. I mean, yeah, he's a handsome guy. I could see why she'd be into him.
- [09:08]
Sachi Cole
Yeah.
- [09:09]
Harry Demopolis
Well.
- [09:09]
Sachi Cole
Doris and Jimmy get married in 1935. And Sarah, it's a disaster. On their wedding night, he asks her for an allowance. During their marriage, they travel the world and fight the entire time. Jimmy tries and fails to start a political career. And worst of all, Doris gives birth prematurely to a daughter who dies after just 24 hours. By 1943, Doris has had enough. She moves into a hotel in Reno to establish residency so she can file for a divorce. By the beginning of 1944, Doris is 31 years old, divorced and finally free. She jets off to Cairo to work as a war correspondent and an OSS agent. But once World War II ends, Doris falls into a familiar pattern of bad relationships. She marries an international playboy but dumps him for cheating. Then comes a decade long relationship with a Mexican jazz pianist. The relationship is volatile. She has him followed by a PI when she thinks he's cheating, and she stabs him in the arm during an argument in Honolulu. The relationship finally ends after he assaults her for closing a record company that she'd opened for him. Throughout all of this, Doris struggles to find herself. She tries to be a dancer, a musician, an actor. But even with her limitless resources, she can't quite make any of these work.
- [10:35]
Sarah Hagie
Yeah, I feel like people who are born into extraordinary wealth, people who never need to work again. The thing they need to do is to actually find something to do or they will fall into these patterns. Unless someone has a purpose, something that's keeping them busy most of the days, they will just end up making every mistake possible.
- [10:56]
Sachi Cole
Yeah, people need direction. Well, after her breakup with the pianist, Doris finds solace in a a gay interior designer named Eduardo Tirella. With Eduardo's help, Doris throws herself into restoring and redecorating her properties. But eventually the two start clashing over creative and logistical choices. And Doris is drinking heavily by now, sometimes as many as three bottles of wine. At dinner, she's depressed one moment, then manic the next. Eduardo tells her that he wants to leave to pursue a career as a Hollywood set designer, but he's in a lot of debt. So Doris easily convinces him to stay to finish working on her estate in Newport, Rhode Island. And somehow this friendship ends more tragically than any of Doris romantic relationships. One day in October of 1966, Doris. Eduardo gets out of the car to manually unlatch the gate at the end of Doris driveway while she waits behind the wheel. What happens next is unclear, but the car ends up lurching forward, smashing through the gate and crushing Edoardo. When the police arrive, Doris is so consumed by grief, she's incoherent. It's a huge scandal, and the rumors swirl that Doris killed Edoardo to prevent him from leaving. Friends and family of Eduardo's later say she was furious with him, and the press speculates that perhaps Doris was drunk behind the wheel. Eduardo himself had complained about Doris drinking to their mutual friends.
- [12:25]
Sarah Hagie
You know, this is an actual way people die and have died. It's not totally uncommon. But regardless, I do think this is one of those things that will raise suspicion because it is such a freak accident and she had, I guess, this really up and down relationship with someone she was very close to.
- [12:43]
Sachi Cole
Ultimately, the police rule his death as an accident. And in the days that follow, Doris starts writing checks. She donates $25,000 to restore Newport's historic cliff walk. That's nearly $200,000 today. She also sets up the Newport Restoration Foundation. Whether or not Doris caused Eduardo's death, she throws her money at the problem. Doris has spent her entire life trying to recapture the intimacy she shared with her father. But everyone she's loved has eventually left her. And now in her mid-50s, Doris is lonely and searching for meaning. And that makes her more vulnerable than ever. It's February 1984, and Shandi Hefner is marveling at ornate tiles, beautiful paintings, and Islamic art from Damascus. But she's not in Syria. Shandy is in the Damascus room of Doris Hawaiian palace. This world is a far cry from the one Shandi came from. Born Charlene Gale Hefner in 1953, she grew up in an upper middle class family in the suburbs of Baltimore. After high school, she ran away from home to find herself traveling around the world before becoming a Hare Krishna and landing in Hawaii, where she lives in something like an ashram. But Shandi seems to have gotten tired of commune life. In the past few years, she appears to have developed a taste for the finer things, like traveling to Oahu for polo matches. Some people chalk this up to jealousy. In 1980, Shandy's sister Claudia married the activist investor Nelson Peltz, introducing Shandy to the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Like Nelson's mentor, junk bond king and Scamfluencers alum Michael Milken. And Shandy appears to be specifically interested in getting to know Doris. She recently befriended the artistic director at a dance studio where Doris has taken classes and asked him about Doris. He's actually the one who brought her to the Leduc estate. Today. She was supposed to wait at the gate for him, but instead she came into the house and now she's chatting with Doris herself.
- [14:49]
Sarah Hagie
You know, it's crazy that people kind of make a career out of finding the richest person they can befriend. It's a whole type of lifestyle where it's like water cooler talk around a yoga studio and you find a rich person.
- [15:06]
Sachi Cole
Yeah, it's an interesting gig if you can figure out how to do it. Chandi might be a surprise visitor, but she and Doris get along incredibly well. They bond over their shared love of dance, animals, and nature. They exchange phone numbers and start hanging out almost every day. At the end of the summer, Doris invites Shandy to Duke Farms, her estate in Somerville, New Jersey. Shandy accepts. From that point on, the two women spend nearly every moment together. They travel together to Russia and then to Romania for a rejuvenation cure. Back home, they tend to Doris as many animals. And they shop frequently, buying everything from clothing to jewelry to expensive horse saddles. Chandi and Doris become close. So close that it sparks rumors that the two women are lovers. It doesn't help that Doris usually tells people that Shandy is her niece, which is kind of a classic cover for mistress around this time, for what it's worth, Shandy and Doris both deny these rumors. But Shandy and Doris are eccentric. They allegedly inject themselves with sheep cell placenta every day to stay young and engage in channeling sessions. During one of these sessions, Doris allegedly becomes convinced that Shandy is the reincarnation of the daughter she lost in 1940. Eventually, Chandie says that she needs to return to her ranch in Hawaii to take care of her own animals. But Doris allegedly promises to, quote, take care of you and all of your animals for the rest of your life. From here, Chandi's influence grows, especially over Doris staff. She helps Doris hire a new accountant and a new head of security, men who previously worked for her sister's husband, Nelson. Later, Chandi claims that she's just helping to streamline things for Doris. And sure, it's possible that Doris wanted the staffing shakeups, but. But it seems to give Shandy significant power over Doris life.
- [17:03]
Sarah Hagie
Yeah, I mean, this type of rich woman like Doris obviously reminds me a lot of a previous subject, Liliane Betancourt. But there's something so significant about, like her father saying trust no one, being such an important thing to happen to her, and then seeing her frequently, just trust anyone, it seems, you know, and also like, if someone has the best intentions for you, they're not going to make every choice for you.
- [17:28]
Sachi Cole
Right. It's all a little fishy. And In June of 1987, a little over three years after Shandy met Doris, Doris, longtime butler, leaves. This is a critical role. Doris Butler essentially functions as her personal assistant. And Shandy actually knows someone who's both qualified and available, Bernard Lafferty. Bernard briefly worked for Nelson and Claudia, and while they fired him for having a drinking problem, the couple still like him and want him to land somewhere. Bernard also worked for Elizabeth Taylor as well as the singer Peggy Lee. So Chandy knows that he gets along with rich women of a certain age. She must feel confident in Bernard because she recommends him to Doris. Bernard turns out to be a perfect fit. Doris likes him because he's soft spoken and helps her with fine motor tasks like sewing and embroidery. Shandy seems to like him because he's fun to gossip with. In just a few years, Shandy has gone from communal living to queen of the castle. And now she has a trusted ally by her side. But her new best friend is about to start making moves of his own. It's July of 1987, just a few weeks after Bernard started working for Doris. And Doris head chef Thomas Ryback is weighing a question from his boss. Should she keep Bernard around? Thomas is in his late 30s, with Kind Brown eyes and a long oval face. He's worked in fine dining for years with ambitions of developing a celebrity clientele. He's worked for Doris for about three years, which in Doris Duke time is an eternity. Doris isn't easy on her staff and there is constant turnover. The fact that Thomas has lasted this long means Doris trusts his opinion. But he's not sure what to tell her about Bernard. Recently, he and Doris, head of security, found Bernard naked and flopped over a chair, passed out and surrounded by empty bottles of Duke Farms liquor. Bernard was immediately taken to the hospital to dry out, and Doris put him in rehab. This wasn't out of character for her. Doris has a reputation for being both incredibly stingy and willing to go to extreme lengths for people and causes she cares about. And while she's in a charitable mood at the moment, she's not sure if she wants to bring Bernard back when he finishes rehab. Over the past few weeks, Thomas has found himself rooting for Bernard. He's learned that Bernard grew up in Ireland, was orphaned before he turned 17, and moved across the Atlantic to live with his only surviving relative in Philadelphia. From there, Bernard landed a job at the swanky Bellevue Stratford Hotel. He worked his way up to managing some of the hotel's restaurants, restaurants before eventually working for celebrities like Peggy Lee and Liz Taylor. Bernard has the kind of success story that Thomas can't help but root for. On top of that, Thomas really appreciates that Bernard balances out Chandi. Chandi is a vegetarian and animal lover with very strong opinions about food, so she can be kind of a nightmare for the kitchen. Thomas just wants to keep his head down and work without too much interference. And Bernard can act as a literal buffer between the kitchen and the dining room. So Thomas tells Doris to give Bernard another chance. She agrees, and when Bernard finishes rehab at the end of the month, he returns to the estate.
- [20:47]
Sarah Hagie
I don't think it's necessarily insane to have someone come back to work after rehab. It seems pretty fair to give someone a second chance. But Doris, life is just. It's so chaotic the way that only a rich person can be. And, you know, you peel back these layers and you're just like, what is happening?
- [21:05]
Sachi Cole
Yeah, this should all be a little easier. At first, Thomas is happy to have Bernard back. But almost immediately, he notices that Bernard seems different. Shandy and Bernard are now disappearing off into corners, just the two of them. It feels like an alliance is forming and that perhaps Bernard is making a play for mer power. Then one night after dinner, Bernard comes into the kitchen carrying plates and tells Thomas that, quote, Ms. Hefner's complaining. According to Bernard, the food is too cold. Thomas is shocked. He's worked for Doris for years and he's never received this type of complaint. Besides, there's not a ton of room for error. Shandy isn't exactly a gourmand. And with her dietary restrictions, he's reduced to mostly serving her low calorie, high fiber, bland foods. Thomas reheats the meal, but he's suspicious. He thinks Bernard waited to serve the food until it got cold. It's not a crazy thought. There are always power struggles between the staff. It's possible Bernard is siding with Shandy and trying to make Thomas look bad to put him out of Doris favor. As the summer wears on, Bernard keeps bringing back the food, and Thomas becomes even more sure that he is being sabotaged. Eventually, it gets so bad that Doris, head of security, pulls Thomas aside to ask a sensitive question. He tells Thomas that Doris is so concerned about the quality of the food that she suspects Thomas may be on drugs and she wants him to submit to a drug test. Thomas agrees, and the test comes back clean. But he's still furious. He's just trying to do his job, and it feels like Bernard and Chandy are pushing him out. Just before Labor Day, after weeks of arguing with Bernard, Thomas quits. Thomas regrets ever recommending Bernard's return. He's lost a major client in Doris, but he's also relieved to escape this increasingly toxic dynamic. But everyone else around Bernard, Shandy, and Doris isn't so lucky. And the three are about to grow even closer. It's November of 1988, about 14 months after Thomas quit. Shandy and Doris sit in a light green station wagon pulling up to a drab, gray country courthouse in Somerville, New Jersey. It's less swanky than the places they usually go, but today they're doing something monumental. Doris is legally adopting 35 year old Shandy.
- [23:34]
Sarah Hagie
Oh, yeah.
- [23:35]
Sachi Cole
Well, Sarah, the ceremony itself is pretty weird. Shandy formally renounces her biological parents, and she changes her legal name to Shandy Duke Hefner. Neither of which is actually required.
- [23:49]
Sarah Hagie
No, this is crazy. This is not happening. There's not an adult adoption happening right now. This is wrong.
- [23:56]
Sachi Cole
It is happening. I know you're not happy about it, but it is happening. But I'll tell you, what is required is convincing the judge that she is not being adopted for financial reasons, which is tough because Doris has been a shrewd businesswoman when it comes to her father's wealth. And at this point, she's worth an estimated $800 million, or over $2 billion in today's money.
- [24:19]
Sarah Hagie
Oh, my God. Wait, so why else would she be getting adopted if it's not for money? Like, literally? What else would you want as an adult for someone to adopt you?
- [24:27]
Sachi Cole
I mean, you know, love of the game. To be fair, Shandy doesn't necessarily need the money. She's already been named executor of Doris estate. And since this will come up later, I should say that this doesn't necessarily mean she's inheriting everything. Being the executor means that after Doris is gone, Chandi will be in charge of managing Doris Charitable foundation, the main beneficiary of her fortune. The job also comes with a generous fee. But the adoption is still a big deal. After Doris lost her baby, she never had any other children. And so now Shandy becomes Doris only real descendant.
- [25:05]
Sarah Hagie
Does she know she can adopt a baby or a child? That's also a thing you can do, like someone in need. I don't know. Just spitballing out here. You don't have to adopt your 35 year old friend.
- [25:16]
Sachi Cole
She wanted to adopt her 35 year old friend.
- [25:18]
Sarah Hagie
Oh, my God.
- [25:20]
Sachi Cole
Well, the ceremony is intense for Doris too. The judge asks if she understands that the adoption, quote, creates a relationship between you and Ms. Hefner as if she were born to you in wedlock. Doris says that she does. Then the judge adds, quote, including the right of inheritance, and Doris says yes. The whole thing is pretty crazy. And even decades later, no one can actually agree on how it happened. Of course, Chandi says it was Doris idea, but other observers believe Shandy coerced Doris into the adoption. And some of Doris staff say that actually it was Bernard's idea. They say that one night after Shandy and Doris got into a fight in Newport, Doris fell and hit her head. After she went to the hospital, Bernard started telling her how awful it would be if she didn't have an established next of kin. Sure, Doris does have a half nephew who would technically fulfill that role. But who's keeping track? Now that she's been adopted, Shandy likely feels a new sense of security in the eyes of the law. She is a duke. Shandy appears to have consolidated almost total control over Doris and Doris money. But she's about to face an unlikely her former best friend, Bernard Lafferty.
- [26:37]
Bernard Lafferty
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- [27:08]
Harry Demopolis
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- [28:10]
Sarah Hagie
I feel like a legend.
- [28:16]
Sachi Cole
It's February 1991, just over two years since Doris adopted Shandy Hefner, and Dr. Harry Demopolis is sitting at home in New York when he gets a frantic call from Doris. Harry calls himself a longevity specialist, and he has a lot of celebrity clients like Sylvester Stallone and Clint Eastwood, and those might seem like red flags, but Harry is a real doctor who has contributed to cancer research. Harry has known Doris for about a decade, and he considers her a friend as well as a client. So when she begs him to come to Los Angeles to help her, he goes. When Harry arrives at Doris Bel Air mansion, things are dire. Doris is paranoid, and she tells Harry that Shandy tried to kill her. Things have clearly gone downhill between Doris and Shandy since the adoption. Doris asks Harry to test her blood, along with other items from her Hawaii estate for traces of poison. Bernard is by Doris side the whole time. Over and over, he tells Harry, oh, Doctor, we just escaped. When Harry runs the tests, they come back negative. But Doris has her sherry from Hawaii tested separately, and that test comes back positive, showing traces of an anticoagulant that's also used as rat poison.
- [29:33]
Sarah Hagie
Listen, anything could be happening right now because this guy can be a total crock of shit. Doctor who thinks everything is poisonous, or sees a trace amount of something that's already an ingredient and says it's poison. Like, I really don't know what's happening right now, but I do feel like Doris is probably paranoid for a reason.
- [29:50]
Sachi Cole
Well, things are pretty chaotic, and Doris tells Harry that she wants to disadopt Shandy.
- [29:57]
Sarah Hagie
What she's gonna give her back to someone. Like what does that mean? She's gonna put this woman in her midst 30s in a cardboard box and
- [30:04]
Sachi Cole
leave her outside the fire station? Exactly.
- [30:06]
Sarah Hagie
So good.
- [30:07]
Sachi Cole
After she talks to her lawyers, she tells Harry that she can't actually do that, but she can disinherit her and remove Shandy as the executor of the estate. Doris knows just who she wants to replace Shandy in the Harry himself. From the outside, this looks sketchy, but Harry is actually a really good candidate for the role. He's educated, he cares about Doris, and he's known her for a long time. So a few weeks later, In March of 1991, she names him as the co executor of her estate alongside a bank. This part is pretty normal. Financial institutions are often designated to help administer large estates. Harry visits Doris several times over the next few months and she seems to be doing a lot better. To his relief, removing Shandy seems to have solved some of Doris health problems and depression. Doris becomes incredibly dependent on Harry during this period. She gives him the nickname D Mop and insists that staff put his calls through immediately. But as the summer of 1991 winds down, something shifts. Doris becomes more reluctant to answer his calls, and when she does pick up the phone, she seems distant. One day in October, Doris tells Harry, quote, I don't want to see you. I've heard from two sources that you're saying bad things about me. Eventually he learns who the sources are. Doris's accountant, Irwin Bloom and Bernard. They've been telling Doris that Harry is a manipulative quack. And it soon becomes clear why. Irwin replaces Harry as Doris executor while Bernard is written directly into the will securing himself a $98,000 annual income from for life. Harry is dismayed. He was one of the few people who really had Doris best interests at heart. And now all he can do is watch as Bernard tightens his grip on Doris and her fortune. With Harry out of the way, Bernard is firmly in the driver's seat, and for a while, things seem good. Doris appears energized again, and her friends comment on how attentive Bernard is. He even does her hair. But eventually, Doris energy fades again, and rather than going back to Hawaii for the winter, Bernard decides that he and Doris should go to Los Angeles to see a doctor. But not Harry. The new doctor is named Roland Atega. He previously treated Ferdinand Marcos, and one of Doris housekeepers later describes him as, quote, a sniveling little Machiavellian worm. Roland backs up Bernard's claim that Chandy was trying to poison Doris. Doris deteriorating health now has an explanation. But this only makes Doris even more paranoid and gives Bernard even more control. We don't know the details of Bernard and Roland's relationship, but we do know that Doris pays Roland over $100,000 for a treatment everyone refers to as blood cleaning, and she loans him about $400,000 to help with some back taxes. But Doris health doesn't improve. So when she and Bernard travel to Vietnam a couple of Months later, in February 1992, Roland comes with them. This way he can continue treating her for weakness and marked depression. There's a photo from around this time, Sarah. Can you describe it?
- [33:32]
Sarah Hagie
Yeah, it's a black and white photo of Doris, Bernard and someone named Nuku on one of those, like, touristy boats. She's wearing big sunglasses, a scarf over her head. And you know, Doris, for someone that old, she looks like she's having a really nice time.
- [33:49]
Sachi Cole
Yeah, I mean, even though Doris is sick and frail, Bernard is always there to hype her up. While they're on the trip, Doris decides she wants to cut out her accountant and put Bernard in charge. Bernard is delighted. Once they get back to the U.S. doris installs Bernard as co executor of her estate alongside her nephew, Walker Inman Jr. The following day, Doris undergoes a facelift, eye lift and cheek implants, with Bernard's support, of course. But at almost 80 years old, Doris is too frail for the extensive surgeries and she falls and breaks her hip. Throughout it all, Bernard intercepts calls from Doris friends, assuring them that Ms. Duke is doing well, she's getting better.
- [34:34]
Sarah Hagie
Ugh, that really makes me sad. She is clearly being isolated and it's really quite nuts that someone of her stature and who has the amount of resources she does could be this frail.
- [34:47]
Sachi Cole
Yeah. Well, then finally, in April 1993, Doris, under Bernard's care, decides to draw up one last will. This is the moment we open the episode with where the lawyer asks Doris if she knows where she is. It's a reasonable question because between the surgeries and various medical treatments, Doris isn't in great shape. She's emaciated and can barely walk or eat. But she is still committed to leaving Bernard in charge. Or at least that's what Bernard says later. This should be a final moment of victory for him. But he's about to hear from someone he thought was out of the picture. Doris, estranged daughter. On April 6, 1993, literally the day after Doris signs her final will, Shandy is back at the courthouse in Somerville, New Jersey. It's the same place where she was legally adopted by Doris. But this time, Shandy is there to sue the woman who is legally her mother. Two years ago, Doris left with Bernard for a dentist appointment and never spoke to Shandy again. Instead, Shandy received a call from Doris lawyer instructing her to leave the Hawaiian estate and never come back. Shortly after that, Shandy was cut out of the will. The public hasn't exactly been kind to Shandy either. About a year ago, a journalist published a book about Doris with an entire chapter devoted to Shandy titled Daughter Dearest. It's likely a reference to Mommy Dearest, the movie depicting actress Joan Crawford as a manipulative, abusive tyrant. In the book, Shandy is portrayed as the ultimate fortune hunter, using her faux spirituality and even her sexuality to coerce Doris into subservience. Going up against Doris Duke is pretty daunting. Doris has nearly endless resources, and she's happy to wait out her many enemies. But Chandi is desperate. In her lawsuit, Chandie claims that Doris promised to provide for her financially for life in exchange for being her constant companion and managing her estates. Shandy says that she sold Doris gold for her, purchased a plane, hired a bodyguard to protect her from kidnapping, manage the farm, and reorganize the staff. Shandy describes her time with Doris as an act of charity. She also claims that she saved Doris life several times, including once plunging into the frigid Atlantic to save Doris from drowning. Doris has been the subject of tabloid speculation for years, and now her dirty laundry is being aired in public. But Shandy doesn't come away unscathed either. In the lawsuit, Shandy claims that she and Doris led a sedate, tranquil life together. But a former member of Doris staff tells the Washington Post that the two women fought constantly with arguments that usually resulted in broken dishes. The staffer says that Shandy quote out Leona Helmsley. Leona Helmsley.
- [37:49]
Sarah Hagie
Damn. I mean, once again, we're seeing a bombshell lawsuit expose everything. I kind of believe they were both equally crazy.
- [38:00]
Sachi Cole
Yeah. Tough to figure out who's at fault fully here. Shandy may have dealt a blow to Doris image, but she's facing an uphill battle. In that same Washington Post story, an anonymous member of the Duke family downplays the possibility that Shandy will get a settlement, saying, quote, I think Doris will turn it over to her lawyer and say, crush her. Shandy is bracing for a long fight with Doris, but she doesn't realize that all hell is about to break loose because Doris time is running out. It's October 27, 1993, almost seven months after Shandy filed her lawsuit. Bernard is by Doris side at her Los Angeles home, along with her longtime maid and some medical professionals. Doris is just a few weeks shy of her 81st birthday, but nobody is in the mood to celebrate because she is on her deathbed. Over the summer, Doris had double knee replacement surgery, but one of her knees became infected, triggering a spiral of health problems. Now Doris has a feeding tube implanted in her stomach and a tracheotomy tube to assist with breathing. She's also receiving a lot of morphine. Later, there are disagreements about Doris final wishes. Some people claim Doris said that she doesn't want to go on living. Others claim that she was planning to go back to Duke Farms to recover. In an affidavit, one staff member later alleges that Bernard received a package of morphine and said, quote, Ms. Duke is going to die tonight. However it happened, more medication is administered and Doris dies in her sleep at around 6am the next morning.
- [39:40]
Sarah Hagie
Obviously, this is suspicious, but there could be a universe where this is kind of something Doris asked for and that, you know, this kind of stuff does happen where someone wants to choose when they end their life if they're already that sick. But who knows? Who knows? I guess it really depends on what Bernard does later.
- [39:58]
Sachi Cole
Yeah. And almost immediately, Bernard starts making strange decisions. Within hours of her death, he oversees Doris cremation. Soon after that, he flies to Hawaii to scatter her ashes in a private ceremony with no family in attendance. This is all very weird because Doris had told several of her friends that she hated the thought of being cremated. She said that she wanted to be buried at sea. And even though Bernard does seem devastated, he's also very ready to enjoy his new lifestyle. As the executor of Doris estate, He's just inherited $5 million, plus a lifetime annuity of half a million dollars a year. And this is in 1990s money, which means that $5 million would be worth more than $11 million today. Soon after Doris death, Bernard has her jewelry appraised at Christie's. He also continues drawing his $100,000 a year salary as Doris executive assistant, even though she is dead. A few Months later, in January 1994, an earthquake hits Los Angeles. Bernard uses it as an opportunity to renovate Doris mansion, including fixing up the primary bedroom and spending tens of thousands of dollars to widen the doors to the garden. As executor, Bernard is supposed to be Running Doris charitable foundations and overseeing how her money is allocated. He is not supposed to spend the money on renovating her house, but then again, he also doesn't have permission to live there and sleep in her bedroom, which he is doing anyway. Basically, the properties belong to the Duke foundation, not to Bernard. They're meant to be donated, open to the public, or sold so the proceeds can fund charitable work. And that earthquake isn't the only thing that shakes the Duke estate. In early 1994, Shandy files another lawsuit, this time directly challenging the will in Manhattan Surrogate's Court. A few months after that, Dr. Harry files his own lawsuit challenging Bernard's role in the will. Three of Doris former employees also sue Bernard and the estate for harassment and breach of contract. Bernard is swimming in legal trouble, and his behavior grows more erratic.
- [42:16]
Sarah Hagie
Moments.
- [42:16]
Sachi Cole
In June 1994, Bernard drives Doris Cadillac through a red light and hits a light pole and four cars before crashing into the Whiskey a Go Go nightclub. We don't know for sure, but it's likely that he was drunk at the time of the accident. The housekeeper had been driving Bernard around, But the two of them got into an argument, and Bernard was left to get home by himself. Instead of taking responsibility, he asked the estate to buy him a new car and hire him a personal chauffeur.
- [42:45]
Sarah Hagie
Yeah, that's like, definitely not the reaction you're supposed to have when you get into that kind of car accident. And if maybe I was questioning, like, how much Doris enabled him, like, it
- [42:56]
Sachi Cole
still just doesn't matter.
- [42:57]
Sarah Hagie
Like, he could do whatever he wants, I guess.
- [42:59]
Sachi Cole
Yeah. And Bernard's money management is just as chaotic. At the end of 1994, he estimates he spent $60,000 on antiques, but the real number is 650,000 dol. He also takes out a loan for more than $825,000 from the new York bank that handles Doris estate. Bernard doesn't seem to care about any of this. He's too busy hitting the town with his old boss, Elizabeth Taylor. Outside observers don't know Bernard is gay, so they often assume that he is her boyfriend. Sarah, can you describe this picture of Bernard from around this time?
- [43:38]
Sarah Hagie
Yes. Okay, first of all, you know when you can't even see a full ponytail, and, you know, there's like, a crazy ponytail situation happening?
- [43:46]
Sachi Cole
Ye.
- [43:46]
Sarah Hagie
Yeah, that's what's happening with Bernard. He's wearing some type of suit. His hair is pulled back into a low ponytail. He looks like he indulges, let's say. And he's wearing one of those Red AIDS awareness ribbons that people would wear a lot in the 90s. Yeah, it's pretty funny also seeing this photo of him, like, around the time when people really knew who he was and to assume that, you know, maybe they were together because this is so clearly a gay guy, you know, it
- [44:19]
Sachi Cole
is the gayest man to ever exist. Well, everything comes to a head in January 1995, when a nurse named Tammy Payette submits an affidavit in Surrogate's Court claiming that Bernard conspired with Doris doctors to murder her. These explosive accusations send the tabloids into overdrive with headlines like, did the butler do it? And Liz Taylor has a new man. He's a murder suspect. Not long after she levels this claim, Tammy is discredited, and rightfully so. She's been stealing from her employers and is deemed an unreliable witness against Bernard. Even though Tammy isn't a credible source and no charges were ever filed against Bernard, the damage has been done. Hollywood gossips never forget. And the accusations lingerie. The story of Bernard and Doris shifts depending on who's telling it, and every single angle looks different. But one thing is clear. Bernard is in for a fight, trying to convince the world he was only ever in it for the friendship. Hello, I'm Matt Ford.
- [45:26]
Alice Levine
And I'm Alice Levine.
- [45:27]
Sachi Cole
And we're the hosts of British Scandal.
- [45:29]
Alice Levine
Now Britain loves a royal scandal. Abdications affairs, dodgy uncles. We've had the lot.
- [45:35]
Sachi Cole
But this series is about two brothers
- [45:37]
Alice Levine
raised in palaces, bound by tragedy, supposed to be inseparable.
- [45:42]
Sachi Cole
So how did they end up barely speaking?
- [45:44]
Alice Levine
Was it jealousy?
- [45:46]
Sachi Cole
The press? The firm? Or was this royal rift always inevitable? This is the story of Harry and Wills and the scandal that split the House of Windsor.
- [45:55]
Alice Levine
Follow British Scandal wherever you get your podcast, or listen early and ad free on audible. I'm Indra Varma. And in the latest season of the Spy who, we open the file on Larry Chin, the spy who outplayed Nixon. For decades, Chin was embedded deep inside US Intelligence. Then comes an opportunity. Richard N. Nixon's secret plan to reopen relations with China. Information Chin can place directly into Mao's hands. But the CIA has a weapon of their own. A Chinese mole ready to defect. How long until Qin's gig is up? Follow the Spy who Now. Wherever you listen to podcasts,
- [46:43]
Sarah Hagie
I feel like.
- [46:49]
Sachi Cole
It's May 22, 1995, and inside the grand stone building that houses Manhattan Surrogate's Court, judge Eve Preminger is sick of Doris Duke. Eve has strawberry blonde hair and a friendly smile, but she is serious about her work. She's one of two judges who oversees this court, and she's tired of the Doris Duke circus. It's only been about 18 months since Doris will was filed, but there have been so many legal challenges that Eve is totally underwater. Eve is frustrated with all of this, but she's especially done with Bernard. A few months ago, she assigned an investigator to look into Bernard's spending since Doris death in order to determine whether he was fit to serve as executor. And the investigator found a laundry list of outrageous expenditures and misappropriations, including Bernard continuing to draw his executive assistant salary, securing loans from the same bank administering the estate, and misallocating funds to renovate the house he isn't supposed to be living in. Judge Eve is so fed up that she doesn't even bother holding a hearing. Instead, she writes a scathing decision from her chambers declaring that Bernard is basically illiterate, financially irresponsible, and in the throes of an alcohol addiction. She says Bernard's reckless personal spending is endangering the charitable work Doris estate is supposed to be doing, supporting museums, wildlife preservation, and even Elizabeth Taylor's AIDS foundation. Doris Duke was complicated, but she was passionate about the causes she believed in. Sarah, can you read an excerpt from the judge's decision? Yes.
- [48:29]
Sarah Hagie
It reads, there is nothing ordinary about this estate. Ms. Duke intended that her assets create one of the largest vehicles for dispensing charity in the world. The court has a responsibility to ensure that her determination to benefit the public be fulfilled and that the estate is administered without waste or mismanagement. As much as Doris did whatever with her money while she was alive, it seems like at least one thing she knew is that she wanted her money to go somewhere good and to help people when she died. And it's obvious Bernard has not been doing that. So it's kind of nice to see that there's a true grownup in the room for once.
- [49:08]
Sachi Cole
Yeah. And so Eve removes Bernard as executor. But she's far from finished. She still has to adjudicate the question of whether Doris was of sound mind when she signed her will and whether her doctor intentionally hastened her death by giving her an overdose of morphine. And as it turns out, she hasn't gotten rid of Bernard at all. A few weeks later, his lawyers appeal Eve's decision. They argue she should have held a hearing and that Bernard's drinking and personal spending are none of the estate's business. The appeals court partially agrees it blocks Bernard's removal But orders that the bank, with Eve assigned as temporary executor, should still be involved in administering the estate. Eve resigns herself to the fact that Bernard isn't going away anytime soon. But there's someone else who's been waiting patiently on the sideliness. Someone who's spent years fighting for a piece of Doris fortune. And she is about to get exactly what she wants. It's December 29, 1995, about seven months after Judge Eve first attempted to remove Bernard as executor of Doris estate. Shandy is back in court, settling her own claim. She's working with the other surrogate's court judge, the one not named Eve, and she's about to sign an agreement that will award her the first $800,000 of a staggering $65 million settlement. It's pretty surprising that Shandy is getting anything at all. Doris was very explicit in her will. Sarah, can you read an excerpt? Yes.
- [50:41]
Sarah Hagie
It says, I'm confident that my father, who created certain trusts for my lifetime benefit, would not want Shandy Hefner to have any interest in such trusts, even if I had wanted her to have such interest, which I do not. Oh, wow. What could be more clear? She's like, I don't care about anything that you think you might know. My dad would be rolling in his grave if Shandy had a cent for me.
- [51:07]
Sachi Cole
Well, Shandy has kept fighting through this humiliation. She's endured multiple depositions, and each time she's had to watch her old friend Bernard arrive with a bodyguard and a chauffeur decked out in Doris jewelry, including a 5 carat diamond earring and a diamond watch. But Shandy has one critical Everyone in this situation looks terrible, and the people running Doris Estate need to repair their reputations. There's been a lot of press about the fight over Doris Will, including a very revealing article in Vanity Fair and several pieces that basically accuse Bernard of murder. Shandy has been threatening to write a tell all book, but she agrees to hold back and remain silent for a price. Shandy is on a rollercoaster. She's finally gotten the money she's been seeking. But Bernard is still the executor of Doris estate, at least for a few more months. In April 1996, Bernard finally agrees to step down. He hands the reins to a group of trustees, including Dr. Harry. The following day, armed guards put Bernard's belongings in boxes and escort him out of Doris Beverly Hills mansion. For Chandy, this is probably a mixed bag. Sure, she gets to see Bernard publicly humiliated, but questions still linger about his role in some of Doris smaller charities. And in the end, he doesn't exactly suffer. As a part of the settlement, Bernard walks away with $4.5 million in executor fees, and he retains his half a million dollar a year payments. He might be out of Doris mansion, but he relocates to a $2.5 million house in nearby Bel Air, complete with his own butler and personal assistant. Shandy doesn't get to enjoy her victory for long. Just a few months later, in July, she's sued herself by an ex boyfriend who once worked for Doris as a bodyguard. The ex sues her for half of her $65 million settlement. And the language he uses in the lawsuit might sound familiar. Sarah, can you read some of it?
- [53:12]
Sarah Hagie
Sure. He says that he served as Shandy's companion, confidant, cook, bodyguard, and that she had promised to share her expected inheritance with him. And that her breach of agreement led to humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional injuries. Man, these people are really willing to give away all their dignity for money. Yeah, it's like these are the most disgusting, undignified people. It's like people do have a price, it turns out.
- [53:40]
Sachi Cole
Yeah, they do. And we don't know exactly how this lawsuit was resolved, but there's no evidence of a trial or a settlement. It's likely that Shandy's legal team simply outmatched him. A year later, in November 1997, Chandy learns that Bernard has died in his sleep from a heart attack at 51, likely related to his drinking and regular use of various medications. After his death, it's revealed that Bernard left whatever remains of his fortune to the Doris Duke Foundation. Bernard's former employer, Elizabeth Taylor, helps organize a memorial attended by his other former employer, Peggy Lee. Shandy does not attend. Since Doris death, Shandy has kept a low profile. Meanwhile, the Doris Duke foundation has flourished. Its assets now exceed $2 billion. The $65 million awarded to Shandy and the $5 million plus to Bernard were mere drops in the bucket of a vast fortune. And the very public fallout after Doris death doesn't seem to have tarnished the foundation's legacy, which awards millions of dollars in grants each year to artists, environmental causes, and scientific research.
- [54:52]
Sarah Hagie
This is one of our classic kind of favorite things where we realize that being rich kind of sucks. Ugh. This is just what a miserable life.
- [55:03]
Sachi Cole
Doris was so rich, like, so rich and had a lot of money and had a lot of influence in, like, these sort of arts endowments and stuff like that in the states. And I Still didn't know a lot about her until we started working on this episode. It's just interesting how many rich people there are in the US and all these fights that people have over their money and it doesn't even cross the path of the regular person.
- [55:26]
Sarah Hagie
Yes, of course. I mean, I feel like it's such an American thing where you hear these names and they're attached to buildings and foundations and you kind of just don't really think twice about it. But behind every one of those is a potential. Doris Duke.
- [55:40]
Sachi Cole
Yeah, I think there is something to be said about, like, rich people seek a certain kind of company, and there are scam artists who know how to kind of masquerade and the exact thing that they need, which is someone who's, like, kind of familial or paternal or sort of tends to them and, like, gives them whatever they want and anticipates their need. Like Gary the bad guy and Veep or. You know what I mean? Like, they just sort of know how to talk to people and be present. For these sorts of people who are living, like, above society, it's its own weird skill. I mean, this guy couldn't read or write, and look what he did.
- [56:14]
Sarah Hagie
Yeah, it is really a skill. Some people just got it. You know what I mean? Some people just have it and they have it in spades. And I feel like Bernard is one of those people. I think it's easy to say that she just shouldn't have trusted anyone. But the problem with this is that you have to trust some people who can give you proper advice. If you have good people in your life and you have a way to know who's full of shit and who's not, which is life experience, then you're likely not going to be in these situations. But someone like Doris was kind of set up to have this type of failure.
- [56:47]
Sachi Cole
Yeah. I mean. So you don't agree with her dad's advice of trust no one?
- [56:52]
Sarah Hagie
No, not at all. You have to trust someone. You're not smart enough to trust no one. Nobody is.
- [56:57]
Sachi Cole
I think maybe part of the problem is, like, she didn't trust herself. Like, she, I think, was in a position where she was so used to people telling her what to do and how to do it. When you have that much money, you're not actually responsible for anything. You're not a custodian of your own life or your own interests. And so when you have that much money, he's saying, like, don't trust anybody. But he wasn't telling her, like, you have to trust yourself. And so, of course, she's looking for all these people who are gonna help her, including this, like, Hare Krishna white lady.
- [57:24]
Sarah Hagie
In some ways, the scam starts at the top, which is that we enable rich people and also that we live in a world where the idea is to make your life more complicated the more money you get, where it's like, well, I'm rich, so clearly I have to have a butler and a young woman I adopt. And so. And so, and so. And it's like, there has to be a better way. There just has to be a better way. I need to find the rich person who is kind of, like, not stupid this way, because I don't think it's real.
- [57:53]
Sachi Cole
I feel like this story has solidified my belief that everybody should have a mandatory five year period where they work retail or service.
- [58:01]
Sarah Hagie
Mm.
- [58:01]
Sachi Cole
And it doesn't matter how much money you have. You either have to be in a restaurant or you have to fold clothes at an Abercrombie for five years.
- [58:09]
Sarah Hagie
Yes, it should be a rumspringer. It should be a type of rumspringer that is embedded into society, where it's like, you have to have a job where people view you as worthless, and that is when equality will be real. No, but I agree. I'm always so shocked when someone seems so worldly, but they have, like, zero life experience, zero radar to know what anyone is really like or what their intentions can be. And of course, you know, here's the thing. Rich people never want to believe that people want to know them because they're rich. But fundamentally, it is kind of true. Like, you should just assume everyone who knows me wants to know me. For my money, I'm just going to pick the best ones. Like, don't try and prove otherwise and create these bonds with these crazy people.
- [58:49]
Sachi Cole
Yeah, I've always assumed you've only been in it with me for the cash.
- [58:52]
Sarah Hagie
Sashi, the second I find someone that I could be friends with because they're rich, you won't know the name Sarah Haggie anymore. I'll abandon you. Okay, I'm glad you said it on record.
- [59:05]
Sachi Cole
Okay, well, then I assume you would be willing to be adopted by a Doris type figure.
- [59:10]
Sarah Hagie
No, I don't want the paperwork. I don't want. I still like my life. Like, I don't want to be someone's child like that. Ew. It's weird. It's so weird. I'm sorry. Like, that's gross and weird.
- [59:22]
Sachi Cole
This is the problem, sir. You don't want it enough. You don't want it enough.
- [59:25]
Sarah Hagie
Yeah, you know what? Maybe I don't.
- [59:37]
Sachi Cole
This is Bernard Lafferty, the billionaire butler. I'm Sachi Cole.
- [59:41]
Sarah Hagie
And I'm Sarah Hagie. If you have a tip for us on a story that you think we should cover, please email us@scamfluencerswondery.com we use many sources in our research. A few that were particularly helpful were Doris Duke's Final Mystery and A Hostage to Fortune by Bob Colicello for Vanity Fair Seeking the Soul of the Billion Dollar Butler by Paul Lieberman for the LA Times and the book the Richest Girl in the the Extravagant Life and Fast Times of Doris Duke by Stephanie Mansfield.
- [60:11]
Sachi Cole
Charlotte Miller wrote this episode. Additional writing by us, Sachi Cole and Sarah Hagie. Eric Thurm was the story editor. Fact checking by Kalina Newman. Sound design by James Morgan. Additional audio assistance provided by Augustine Lim. Our music supervisor is Scott Velasquez for Freeze on Sync. Our managing producer is Desi Blaylock, Jeanine Carnalo and Stephanie Jens, our development producers. Our associate producer is Charlotte Miller. Our senior producers are Sarah Ennie, Jennifer and Ginny Blume. Our executive producers are Jenny Lauer Beckman and Marshall Louie for Wondery. Follow Scamflancers on the Audible app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to all episodes of Scamflancers ad free by joining Audible.