The revelation of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa's wills has disclosed an $80 million fortune left primarily to his widow, raising the stakes for a potential inheritance battle among their heirs.
- Mar 14, 2025
AceShowbiz - In the aftermath of the deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman (95) and his wife Betsy Arakawa (65), details of their will and estate, worth approximately $80 million, come to light. The actor reportedly left the entirety of his Hollywood fortune to Arakawa.
The possible omission of his three children - Christopher Allen (65), Elizabeth Jean (62), and Leslie Anne (58) - has stoked the fires of potential legal disputes.
After Hackman's death on February 18, a week following Arakawa's sudden demise due to hantavirus - an unusual rodent-borne disease, the estate's division became riddled with complexities.
Legal experts and family insiders anticipate a significant conflict over the inheritance, particularly since Hackman's son Chris has enlisted the help of Andrew M. Katzenstein, a renowned California trust and estate attorney.
Gene Hackman, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, signed the most recent copy of his will in 2005. Whether he included his children from a previous marriage in this document remains uncertain.
It's speculated that the family dynamic was strained, with Hackman admitting to losing contact with his son Christopher after ending his first marriage to Faye Maltese.
Despite the estrangement, Hackman's second wife, Betsy Arakawa, reportedly played a critical role in mending the familial bonds, maintaining closer ties with Leslie and Elizabeth. Arakawa's own will stipulates her assets to be directed towards charitable causes if her spouse predeceased her.
Additional scrutiny of the wills and trust documents, especially those signed before Hackman's mental decline from Alzheimer's, could influence the legal proceedings. The timing of their deaths proves pivotal under New Mexico law, as certain provisions related to simultaneous deaths would alter estate distribution.
The Santa Fe Sheriff's department confirms the deaths as natural with no signs of trauma, though their investigation remains open to say definitively. Conclusive cell phone records and necropsy results on the couple's deceased dog Zinna are awaited to wrap up any lingering questions.
As the family navigates through this challenging period, Hackman's daughters and granddaughter have expressed their immense loss, stating, "He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa."
