Gene Hackman’s $80M Estate: Who Could Be the Beneficiary?
Who Will Likely Inherit Gene Hackman’s $80M Fortune, Considering His 3 Kids Allegedly Didn’t Check on Him for Weeks?
Throughout his profession, the well-known actor kept his personal matters under wraps, especially when it came to his kids. Their relationship was unavoidably impacted by the demands of celebrity.
His estate has come under scrutiny when Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa passed away recently. He was the father of two daughters and a son from his prior marriage, despite the fact that the pair was childless.
The tragedy was exacerbated by the circumstances surrounding the two people’s deaths. Gene, Arakawa, and one of their dogs were discovered dead at their Santa Fe Summit house on February 26, 2025. The 911 caller was shaken by the spectacle.
The cause of their deaths was later verified by officials. According to Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell, Arakawa passed away from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which is mainly transmitted by rodents. According to her autopsy, she died naturally, and it is estimated that she died on February 11.
Dr. Michael Baden said that Arakawa seemed to be her husband’s primary caregiver in the weeks leading up to their deaths. He said, “It looks like she was really taking good care of him.”
The veteran actor’s autopsy, performed by Dr. Jarrell, revealed that he had “severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks, and severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure.”
In addition, “advanced Alzheimer’s disease” and cerebral blood vessel damage associated with chronic high blood pressure were discovered during her test.
Furthermore, Dr. Jarrell concluded that Gene most likely passed away on February 18, approximately a week after Arakawa, after his pacemaker registered a “abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation” on that day.
His latter days are still a bit of a mystery. In response to a question about whether the actor had any correspondence before to his death, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said there was no proof that he communicated with others via technology.
A day after hearing of Gene’s death, his daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman, were spotted out in public, sparking further speculation about his last days.
They arrived together in a gray SUV to a diner in Burbank, California, and were seen leaving. In spite of the situation, they seemed calm and even smiled at each other as they left.
Leslie revealed in an interview that the family was still processing the loss and awaited formal confirmation of their father’s cause of death.
She also mentioned that her father had been in “very good physical condition” and had not had any big surgery recently, so “there was no indication that there was any problem,” she said.
“He enjoyed doing Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week,” Leslie said, underscoring Gene’s continued physical activity well into his senior years. He was therefore in superb health.
She did acknowledge, however, that his death was “not terribly shocking because he was 95.” Despite their close relationship, Leslie admitted that it had been a long time since she had last seen or spoken to her father because she resides in California.
“We had a tight relationship. Even though I hadn’t spoken to them in a few months, she claimed that everything was fine and normal.
It was said that Gene and his kids had a tense relationship. He had a son, Christopher Hackman, in addition to his daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie. He married his first wife, Faye Maltese, in 1956, and the three of them had their first children together in the 1960s.
After getting a minor role in “Bonnie & Clyde,” his career took off in 1967, but the demands of Hollywood put a strain on his responsibilities as a father.
“Even though I had a family, I took jobs that would separate us for three or four months at a time,” Gene revealed in an interview conducted in 1989. “The poor boy in me couldn’t handle the temptations, the money, and the recognition.” That was too much for me to bear.”
In a 2004 interview with “Larry King Live,” the Academy Award winner discussed the difficulties he had in the beginning of his career. He said, when asked how he handled the transition from struggling actor to Hollywood star, “I didn’t handle it very well, really.”
He clarified that even though he was financially supporting his family, he continued to be drawn to the industry’s appeal. Those who worked with him were impressed by his unwavering devotion to his art, even in the face of personal sacrifice.
Regarding his portrayal in “The Royal Tenenbaums,” Ben Stiller wrote in an editorial piece for the New York Times that he performed every moment with dedication and honesty while retaining a hint of humanity. Additionally, Stiller likened his strategy to
“The Poseidon Adventure,” implying that his motivation for working on the project went beyond money.
In addition to his work on screen, Gene was renowned for maintaining the privacy of his personal life, especially with regard to his kids. According to the veteran star’s 1989 interview with film critic John C. Tibbetts, viewers identified with him because he represented a regular guy. He clarified, “I like to keep my personal life fairly common, so that in my art, one can let go and one can soar.”
Gene provided a unique look on his role as a father more than ten years later. The Californian acknowledged that his kids had a big say in a big career choice.
He originally intended to direct “The Silence of the Lambs” after purchasing the rights, but changed his mind. “I don’t have any second thoughts about that decision,” the actor said. My children assisted me in seeing that it wasn’t the greatest course of action.
As he put it, “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.” He also acknowledged the challenges his success caused them.
In addition to having an effect on his relationship with his kids, Gene’s demanding job caused a great deal of gap between him and his son, Christopher. He acknowledged that they had lost touch and that their relationship had deteriorated over time.
The father of three, who separated from his first wife in 1986, felt that his connection with Christopher had been strained as a result of his frequent absences for filming. He believed that it was challenging to give his son the support and direction he required when he was gone for long periods of time.
Their relationship became much more strained when they had to return home after spending months on site and tried to establish authority as a parent.
Gene apparently had a better relationship with his son and children as the years went by, particularly after he married Arakawa in 1991. By inviting the children into their house, she reportedly played a significant part in motivating him to reestablish contact with them.
Gene characterized these reunions as “invaluable” in a 1994 report. According to insiders, he had completely reestablished his relationship with his children and grandchildren by 2020, four years before he retired from performing.
According to an insider, Gene grew close to them and their families after wishing he had been around more when they were kids.
Family was one of the few people he routinely spent time with in his senior years, and his social circle remained small.
Since his death, attention has now turned to how his fortune will be divided. It is anticipated that his children will share his projected $80 million inheritance.
In an interview, legal analyst Tre Lovell clarified that all of his assets will go to them straight if his will calls for an equal division.
The impact of Gene Hackman extends well beyond his monetary achievements. His final years were characterized by his influence on Hollywood, his commitment to his art, and his changing relationship with his family.
Even though he kept his personal life secret, his loved ones will remember him for the relationships he tried to mend as much as for his legendary parts.
