The Debate Over Gene Hackman’s Inheritance—What People Are Saying About His Kids
Why People Say Gene Hackman’s Children ‘Don’t Deserve’ His Inheritance
On February 26, 2025, the Oscar-winning actor and his spouse were discovered dead in their Santa Fe residence. An update on the two dogs that are still alive has been sent, but one of their dogs sadly passed away.
A fortune accumulated over decades of success in Hollywood and writing, Gene Hackman left behind an estate valued at millions of dollars. Online debates have been triggered by the distribution of his riches, nevertheless, especially in relation to his three children from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese: Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie.
The circumstances surrounding the death of the renowned novelist and actor and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were questioned when they were found dead in their Santa Fe home.
The specifics of their deaths were clarified by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator.
The distribution of their estate, which includes their $3.8 million Santa Fe home and other assets worth roughly $80 million, may also be impacted by these discoveries.
There is ongoing conjecture regarding the distribution of Hackman’s assets and whether his children will eventually receive a portion of his wealth as a judicial proceeding progresses.
Due to their claimed lack of interest in Hackman’s later years, several social media users firmly think that his children should not inherit his riches.
“Well, I hope that fortune goes to anybody but his children!” said one lady adamantly. I apologize; I still contacted my dad once or twice a week to see how they were doing even though I didn’t like him because of his wife.
For heaven’s sake, this man had dementia at the age of 95! You don’t check up on him, do you? I’m hoping that the two German shepherds that are left will be lucky.
The statement, “Kids should get nothing so long these people are gone and no once checked on them [sic],” was echoed by another internet user. One individual was shocked by the circumstances, saying, “Three kids? Does no one check on them every day? Sad.
“His kids didn’t care to check on their father, but you best believe they’ll find plenty of time to get every single penny from him,” said one of the many people who criticized Hackman for not communicating with his kids. They don’t deserve Jack, in my opinion.
“His children shouldn’t get any of his money!” was one response that expressed similar sentiments. a straightforward phone call to their father, particularly in light of his medical issues.” “His two daughters are so devastated by his death, they didn’t even know he had died for two weeks??” said one person plainly. “If only they had called him.”
Many people are adamant that Gene Hackman’s wealth should go to someone or anything other than his children, and the argument is still going strong online. According to New Mexico law, a couple’s deaths are considered simultaneous if they occur within 120 hours of one another.
Given that Hawaii native Arakawa is childless, this legal distinction may have an effect on inheritance processes. Arakawa will probably not be the only beneficiary to get a portion of Hackman’s wealth.
Legal experts believe that in order to inherit under normal wills in New Mexico, a person must typically survive their spouse by at least five days. The provisions specified in Hackman’s own legal documents will govern the distribution of the estate because he lived one week longer than Arakawa.
Information on the financial arrangements between Hackman and Arakawa is kept confidential. According to experts, the couple probably had wills or trusts in place because of Hackman’s substantial wealth and access to legal representation.
While state laws are frequently mirrored in estate plans, others may set distinct requirements for inheritance. Married couples typically leave everything to one another, but since Arakawa died first, the main concern at this point is who Hackman named as his beneficiary.
According to estate law specialist John Budagher, families frequently designate their children as heirs, but they can also designate friends, caregivers, or even nonprofits. “Your money is at stake. “You can give it to anyone you want, even a Connecticut donkey sanctuary,” he said.
The chronology of Hackman’s court filings may also be important. It can be questioned if his will or trust been amended recently, particularly in light of his fight with Alzheimer’s.
Significant changes in later years could provide difficulties, especially if assets were transferred to unanticipated beneficiaries.
The existence of any prenuptial or postnuptial agreements and the possibility of claims to Hackman’s inheritance from his children or other parties are other possible considerations.
The final result may take some time, even if court processes could start quickly because New Mexico law permits probate cases to be filed for up to three years.
Authorities recently held a press conference that provided insight into Hackman’s wife’s last hours before her death, while legal issues around his fortune are being resolved. On February 11, the day officials reported her dead, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza provided a detailed account of her whereabouts.
According to Mendoza, Arakawa had a typical day that concluded with unresolved emails and a mystery that persisted. She started her day by sending her massage therapist an email in the morning, and then she went to the grocery store in the afternoon.
Later, she was seen making a brief stop at CVS Pharmacy on surveillance tape. In order to shield her husband, who had Alzheimer’s, from illnesses, Mendoza mentioned that she donned a mask in public that day.
She visited a pet food store as part of her ongoing errands before heading back home at approximately 5:15 p.m. Arakawa didn’t reply to any emails after that, therefore it was the last known activity from her.
Mendoza also revealed that Zinna, the couple’s dog, was discovered in a crate, possibly because Arakawa had picked her up from a veterinarian operation two days prior, on February 9.
But in addition to what she accomplished, details about Arakawa’s failure on February 11 have now been made public. Hackman’s wife purchased prescription dog food and medication from Gruda Veterinary Hospital in southwest Santa Fe for one of her cherished pets, but she never picked it up.
Arakawa had been a frequent visitor to the clinic for years, making sure her three dogs—Zinna, Bear, and Nikita—had all they required. The clinic personnel were concerned when she did not pick up the order.
The veterinarian office tried to contact her a week after February 17 to inform her that the meal was prepared for pickup. However, as it was already too late, there was no answer.
“She was loyal to those dogs,” said Robert Gruda, the hospital’s owner. She was reliable and consistent. When she failed to pick up the food on time, we realized something was off.
Mendoza responded that there was no indication of a caretaker at the home when asked if anyone was helping with Hackman’s care. It appears that Arakawa was the only one who took care of her husband, handling many facets of his everyday schedule.
Due to his long-standing heart problems, the classical pianist planned his golf outings, kept a close eye on his food, and even diluted his wine with soda water. She typed and corrected his handwritten novels as a loyal friend.
She took up the entire burden of caring for him in his last years, determined to stay by his side all the way to the end. Regretfully, authorities report that Hackman and Arakawa died of natural causes within a week of one another.
Most likely, Arakawa died on February 11. In the house she lived with Hackman, her body was discovered on the bathroom floor. She had died of hantavirus, an uncommon but fatal rodent-borne disease.
Hackman, who had advanced Alzheimer’s, lasted another week alone in the house before dying of heart disease on February 18. With sunglasses and a cane close by, he fell in a mudroom.
There are still questions regarding those last days. Was Hackman aware that his wife had left? Did he know that Zinna, their 12-year-old dog, had also perished in a crate? His final moments’ specifics are yet unknown.
However, a close friend of the couple has provided a small consolation following the couple’s unexpected death by sharing a comforting update regarding Hackman and Arakawa’s two dog kids.
The couple’s longtime acquaintance reports that the two surviving dogs are safe and acclimating to their new life. Investigators reported that Bear, a German shepherd, and Nikki, a German shepherd mix, were discovered alive, in contrast to Zinna, and that it seemed the dogs had access to a doggy door.
Mendoza said that one dog was found outside the house and the other was found close to Arakawa’s body. Joey Padilla, who owns Santa Fe Tails, a nearby boarding facility that the couple regularly utilized for their pets, is currently caring for both of the surviving dogs.
ABC News reported that Padilla said, “They are safe and adjusting.” Additionally, he disclosed that he will keep taking care of the dogs until he gets more guidance on Arakawa’s desires for them.
The late couple were praised by Padilla, who called them “amazing friends and dog lovers.” “Those dogs were Betsy’s babies,” he continued.
Before the epidemic started, Padilla, who had known Hackman and Arakawa for over a decade, recalled, he frequently went out to eat with them. However, he saw Hackman less in recent years as Arakawa sought to limit her husband’s social interactions in order to safeguard his health.
Padilla remembered that he hadn’t seen Arakawa since she took Bear to Santa Fe Tails in January. He said, “She was the same old, just, you know, ‘Hey, how’s it going, good to see you.'” in reference to their last discussion. He responded to the couple’s passing by saying, “I’m really saddened. They were genuinely decent individuals.
Other acquaintances and relatives of the couple have also come forward. Although Hackman and Arakawa had always prized their privacy, they grew even more reclusive as they aged.
Previously frequent visitors remarked that the couple no longer invited guests, instead choosing to spend their time alone at their Santa Fe home.
Longtime friend and co-owner of a home décor company with Arakawa, Barbara Lenihan, recounted how their social circle shrank over time. Her words, “People loved to be around them,” “We used to spend a lot of time at their house, but it’d been a while since they were comfortable having others over.”
Daniel Lenihan, her husband and a writer who has known Hackman for more than 30 years, acknowledged that it had been “years” since he had last laid eyes on him. No one had any suspicions about their increasing seclusion.
Until their unexpected deaths made others wonder what had actually been going on behind closed doors, friends thought Hackman and Arakawa were just living a peaceful life together.
Arakawa maintained contact with a few people despite the couple’s disengagement from most social interactions. Among them was Barbara, a longtime acquaintance who had corresponded with her via email in the weeks preceding her passing.
Arakawa showed no signs of worry, and nothing in their chats indicated that anything was amiss. Leslie Anne Allen, Hackman’s youngest daughter, also disclosed that she hadn’t spoken to her father or his spouse in some months.
Despite their recent lack of communication, she stated, “we were close,” and “everything was normal, and everything was good.” She gave Arakawa credit for caring for her father and ensuring his continued well-being. But one individual in Arakawa’s life had seen a peculiar quiet.
Every one or two months, Arakawa has made it a point to see her mother, Yoshie Feaster, 91, who resides in Hawaii, for years. However, in October 2024, Keiko, Feaster’s lifelong housekeeper, reported that the calls had suddenly ceased.
“We were thinking, what happened?” As months went by without hearing from Arakawa, Keiko revealed, they began to worry. Feaster didn’t really comprehend the devastating news when New Mexico authorities told her of her daughter’s death.
Feaster quickly forgot what had happened because she had dementia. Keiko remarked, “She was very upset,” “But right now, she’s kind of normal.” When a worker showed up at the couple’s house, the first indications of danger became evident because Arakawa’s silence had gone unreported for months and neither friends nor relatives had immediately raised any alarms.
A maintenance worker showed up at the Hackman and Arakawa residence outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, 2025. He saw something disturbing as he got closer. Through a window, Arakawa’s body was apparent, motionless. He dialed 911 right away.
The worker’s concern was caught in the heartfelt 911 call, in which he pleaded with authorities to act swiftly. He mumbled, “Damn,” over and over, obviously shaken by what he had witnessed. He added that he was unable to enter the residence since it was locked.
When deputies got there at 1:45 p.m., they discovered the front door was slightly open and unlocked. What they found when they entered sparked a thorough inquiry that ultimately resulted in the authorities disclosing the reason and circumstances of their demise.
