The late Gene Hackman made no mention in his will of his three children, opting instead to leave his entire $80 million fortune to his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, who died days before her Oscar-winning husband.
According to documents obtained by TMZ, Hackman designated Arakawa his sole beneficiary back in 1995 and had not updated his will since. However, her recent death, which closely coincided with her husband’s, complicates the proceedings.
Arakawa also chose to leave most of her assets to Hackman, though her will included a stipulation that should they die within 90 days of each other, all of her assets would go to charity.
While it’s unclear exactly what will happen to Hackman’s fortune, it’s likely that his kids, as his most direct living heirs, will see at least a piece of the pot.
The 95-year-old actor shared one son and two daughters with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese: Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58.
Hackman had previously spoken about the difficult relationships he sometimes had with his kids, admitting that his commitment to his career meant he wasn’t around during their formative years.
“You become very selfish as an actor,” he told The New York Times in 1989 of finally breaking into Hollywood. “Even though I had a family, I took jobs that would separate us for three or four months at a time. The temptations in that, the money and recognition, it was too much for the poor boy in me.”
While his children occasionally joined their father at awards shows or premieres, they mostly chose to avoid the spotlight as kids and young adults.
“It’s tough being the son or daughter of a celebrity,” Hackman said during a 2000 interview with The Irish Independent. “I couldn’t always be home with them when they were growing up, and then, living in California, they’ve had my success always hanging over their heads.”
It’s unclear whether the strained relationships played any role in Hackman leaving his children out of his will, though they had reportedly grown much closer in recent years.
“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,” his daughters and granddaughter said in a statement following his death. “We will miss him sorely, and are devastated by the loss.”
Leslie also expressed grief over the death of Arakawa, saying her father and stepmother had a “wonderful marriage.”
“Betsy took very, very good care of him and was always looking out for his health,” Leslie said in a statement. “I am appreciative to her for that, and I’m very saddened by her passing.”
The house owned by actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa stands Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Santa Fe, N.M. (AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales)
The decomposing bodies of both Hackman and Arakawa were discovered on Feb. 26 inside separate rooms of their $4 million New Mexico mansion, tucked inside a gated community called the Santa Fe Summit.
According to state Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell, Arakawa’s autopsy indicated she died about two weeks earlier, likely on Feb. 11. The 65-year-old was discovered on the floor of a bathroom, while her Australian Kelpie mix was found dead in a nearby crate.
Early findings suggested Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal virus that’s often found in deer mice and can spread to humans.
Hackman was meanwhile found inside a mudroom at the back of the home. Authorities said he died on Feb. 18 due to “severe heart disease,” with Alzheimer’s as a significant contributing factor.