The last will and testimony of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa has raised eyebrows after the couple was discovered dead under tragic circumstances. Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found deceased on February 26, 2025, at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. While the couple’s death shocked the public, the will revealed even more unsettling details.
According to documents obtained by multiple outlets, including People and TMZ, Hackman appointed his wife as the sole beneficiary of his estate, estimated at $80 million (approximately $127 million), through a trust agreement established on September 22, 1995. This provision raises questions about the fate of Hackman’s three biological children, whom he had with his first wife, Faye Maltese. The children, Christopher (65), Elizabeth (62), and Leslie (58), were not mentioned directly in Hackman’s will, surprising many who had assumed they would be the primary heirs.
While most assets from Hackman's estate were left to Arakawa, if the couple's deaths occurred within 90 days of each other, the will stipulates those assets would go to charity. This point has led to speculation on potential legal battles, as court documents filed alongside the will still identify his children as heirs, indicating they might still be able to impose claims on their late father's estate.
After the couple's deaths, it was revealed Arakawa passed from hantavirus around February 11, 2025, approximately two weeks before Hackman succumbed to severe heart disease exacerbated by advanced Alzheimer's. Medical examiners declared their due deaths natural but the timelines and missing details from the will have prompted Christopher Hackman to hire a trust and estate attorney. This action suggests he is preparing to contest the will, heightening the likelihood of legal complications following his father’s passing. Another potential area of conflict arises from the couple's shared living situation, as they married on July 25, 1991, without a prenuptial agreement. New Mexico's community property laws introduce additional factors to be considered when assessing and distributing estate assets.
Since the deaths, efforts have been made to sustain the family’s privacy concerning the legal proceedings and the details surrounding the circumstances of their demise. A legal representative for Hackman and Arakawa has filed motion seeking court protection from the release of photographs or video recordings related to the investigation, emphasizing the right to respect for those who have passed, especially under such distressing conditions.
The emotional and legal fallout surrounding Hackman’s estate continues to develop as the family grapples with the unexpected loss. Despite not being mentioned directly, the three children are likely to inherit part of their father’s legacy due to established inheritance laws. While Hackman and his children have publicly confronted their rocky relationship, Hackman voiced regrets over his absence during Christopher's formative years but reportedly made amends over time. There was, on occasion, cherished companionship between the actor and his children, which only adds to the emotional turmoil experienced by the family amid this tragedy.
Arakawa's will leaves the bulk of her assets to Hackman, with similar contingencies for simultaneous death, providing cause for concern for both parties involved. Presently, the community property laws could dictate the inheritance process based on their life circumstances. With Hackman suffering from dementia, stroke and health issues leading to his eventual death shortly after Arakawa, determining the validity of the will may come down to the circumstances surrounding each of their passes. According to legal experts, should both parties be found to have died within 120 hours of each other, they may be considered to have died simultaneously, which complicates the estate distribution even more.
With so many uncertainties and potential conflicts brewing, the Hackman family is facing not only emotional distress from the loss of their father but also possible contention over their inheritance and estate rights. Questions about the validity of the will and its enforced provisions hang heavy, and the dynamics surrounding examine inheritance challenges will take many months to resolve. Family and friends will continue to watch this tragic story develop as details emerge shedding light on the legacy of Gene Hackman.