Duke, Doris (1912–1993)

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Duke, Doris (1912–1993)

American heiress and philanthropist. Born Nov 22, 1912, in New York, NY; died Oct 28, 1993, at her home in Beverly Hills, California; dau. of James Buchanan Duke (owned American Tobacco Company); attended Brearley School and the Sorbonne; m. James H.R. Cromwell (American sportsman), 1935 (div.); m. Porfirio Rubiroso (Dominican playboy, div.).

Tobacco heiress, one of the richest women in the world, came into her inheritance (1925); focused her philanthropies on animal rights, environment, AIDS, restoration of many old buildings in Newport; lived a somewhat secluded existence in later years.

See also Pony Duke and Jason Thomas, Too Rich: The Family Secrets of Doris Duke; Ted Schwarz with Tom Rybak, Trust No One: The Glamorous Life and Bizarre Death of Doris Duke (St. Martin, 1997).