Perdue and Sheraton heiress Mitzi Perdue wears hand-me-downs, rides the subway, and flies economy

Mitzi Perdue has access to wealth from two of America's most recognizable business empires, yet the 85-year-old says her daily life looks little like the jet-setting image often associated with billionaires. Perdue, who inherited a controlling stake in the Sheraton hotel chain from her father and later married Frank Perdue, the leader of Perdue Farms, says she still rides the subway, flies economy, and lives in a modest apartment.

Perdue was born into the Henderson family in 1941 and, as the fifth child, grew up wearing hand-me-downs. Her father, Ernest Henderson, built Sheraton into a hospitality giant valued at $12.2 billion. When she was 26, she and her siblings inherited his controlling stake. Her fortune grew further after marrying Frank Perdue, whose company, Perdue Farms, brought in more than $10 billion in revenue in 2024.

Despite that background, Perdue told Fortune in a June 2025 interview that extravagance was never encouraged in either family. «The Hendersons and the Perdues did not encourage extravagance,» she said. «In both families, nobody wins points for wearing designer clothes.»

Perdue has lived in the same middle-class apartment building in Salisbury, Maryland, for 14 years, where she says neighbors include nurses, police officers, and even Perdue employees. She notes that one year's rent for her one-bedroom flat equals what her New York City friends pay in a single month. «It's nice, but no one would call it posh,» she said.

Her frugal habits extend to everyday choices. She takes her shoes to a cobbler instead of buying new pairs, flies economy on work trips, and uses the subway when visiting New York City rather than booking car services. Perdue, who describes herself as a «low-maintenance badass,» says she is not interested in flashing her wealth.

Perdue's path after inheriting her fortune did not lead to a life of leisure. She bought agricultural land near the University of California, Davis, so the college could run experiments on the property, and spent years managing a rice farm. She later became a journalist covering farming practices and mental health. Starting in 2022, she began writing about the conflict in Ukraine and sold her $1.2 million engagement ring from her late husband to benefit humanitarian efforts there. She is currently working on developing an AI trauma therapist for victims in Ukraine, a region she says has lacked the resources to meet demand.

Perdue says her reasoning for living modestly stems from the emptiness of taking and the joy of giving. «I'd sure rather have a life of a feast of unending joy versus not being able to count five happy days,» she said. «If you want to be happy, think what you can do for somebody else. If you want to be miserable, think what's owed to you.»

She also credits her family's approach to wealth for her perspective. Perdue notes that family businesses that last 100 years are rare, and both the Hendersons and the Perdues succeeded by focusing on stewardship rather than spending. «The families that last learn stewardship,» she said. «They're not there to go spend it all. They're there to be stewards for the next generation.»

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Connor Quincy

Technology Reporter

Connor Quincy covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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