In a stunning twist following the deaths of Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, the late actor’s $80 million fortune is allegedly not going to his children.
Newly revealed estate documents show that Hackman, who passed away last month at the age of 95, had designated his wife as the sole beneficiary of his estate—leaving out his three children: Christopher, Leslie, and Elizabeth. However, with Arakawa’s sudden death just days after his, the entire inheritance is now in limbo.
A legal battle looms
Hackman’s will, drafted in 1995, reportedly stated that if his wife predeceased him, he would inherit her assets. However, in the event of a simultaneous death—defined as within 90 days of each other—all of Arakawa’s assets would be given to charity. Now, with both gone, the estate has plunged into uncertainty.
Hackman’s son, Christopher, has already hired a high-profile California trust and estate attorney, signaling an impending legal showdown. Despite being excluded from his father’s will, Hackman’s children are the most direct living heirs, meaning they could have a legal claim to the fortune.
A relationship rekindled too late?
The Oscar-winning actor had openly admitted to being absent during his children’s early years, particularly Christopher’s. While he reportedly mended those relationships over time, his will tells a different story.
Mystery, tragedy, and a race against time
Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths were shrouded in mystery. The couple was found lifeless inside their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on February 26, along with one of their three dogs. Authorities later revealed Arakawa had died first—on February 11—from Hantavirus, a rare disease spread by rodent feces.
Her body, in a mummified state when discovered, suggested she had been dead for over a week before Hackman succumbed to a cardiac event on February 18. Officials believe the actor, who had advanced Alzheimer’s, may not have realized his wife had died.
Adding to the intrigue, Hackman’s estate has moved swiftly to block the release of autopsy records, police footage, and bodycam videos related to their deaths. A legal petition argues that once those materials are made public, “the bell cannot be unrung.”
