In brief
The late actor Gene Hackman's will has sparked legal discussions about his $80 million estate after it was revealed his wife, Betsy Arakawa, passed away just one week prior to him. Since his children were not named in the will, they could still be in line to inherit under legal succession laws.
Legendary actor Gene Hackman’s will has been released, but it leaves many questions unanswered regarding his $80 million estate. The two-time Academy Award winner directed all of his fortune to his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who recently passed away. Arakawa, 65, died just one week before Hackman, who was 95.Legal experts have noted that because Arakawa was found dead a few days before Hackman, his three children from a previous marriage, Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie, could potentially inherit the estate despite not being listed in the will. California attorney Tre Lovell elaborated that the estate would likely go into probate under intestate succession laws, making the children the next in line.Authorities confirmed that Hackman died from severe heart disease and Alzheimer's complications after the couple was found in their New Mexico home on February 26, 2023. Initial reports suggested foul play due to the circumstances, but it was later determined both deaths were natural.Betsy’s will also stipulated that her estate would go to a trust for charity if they died within 90 days of each other. Hackman previously expressed how his career impacted his relationship with his children, acknowledging the challenges they faced growing up in the shadow of his fame.In a poignant message following their loss, Hackman’s daughters remarked on the deep love they felt for their father, stating, "to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa."
