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Gene Hackman Left Massive Fortune For His Late Wife But None For His Kids, Document Reveals
Gene Hackman’s will has been revealed — and it seems as though he left every penny of his $80 million Hollywood fortune to his spouse upon his passing.
According to documents obtained by TMZ, the actor made Betsy Arakawa his sole beneficiary back in 1995. His son, Christopher, and daughters, Leslie and Elizabeth, were not named in the will.
Highlights
- Gene Hackman left his $80 million fortune solely to his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
- Hackman's children, Christopher, Leslie, and Elizabeth, were not mentioned in the will.
- Both Hackman and his wife passed away within 90 days, leading to charity donations.
However, because the couple died within 90 days of one another, their deaths were considered simultaneous. In this case, her will gave the instructions that all her assets would go to charity.
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Gene Hackman left his entire $80 million fortune to his wife, Betsy Arakawa
Image credits: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images
Andrew M. Katzenstein, a California trust and estate attorney, was allegedly hired by Hackman’s son, Chris, the oldest of the kids, in hopes of challenging the will.
In the past, the late actor has shed some light on his tumultuous relationship with his children, saying that his stardom definitely took a toll on his personal life.
Hackman had his first big breakthrough with films such as Bonnie & Clyde and I Never Sang For My Father around the 1970s, and it catapulted him into the spotlight. Although this was thrilling news, the Hollywood star found it came with a price as he was often missing out on quality time with his kids as they grew up.
Image credits: SW German Shepherd Rescue
Image credits: Tony Korody/Sygma/Sygma/Getty Images
“It’s tough being the son or daughter of a celebrity,” he said to The Irish Independent back in 2000. “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.”
In 2011, he also opened up about how his successful career had driven some wedges between him and his son, Chris.
Hackman’s relationship with his kids was complex
Image credits: Getty Images
“I lost touch with my son in terms of advice early on,” Hackman shared. “Maybe it had to do with being gone so much, doing location films when he was at an age where he needed support and guidance.
“It was very tough for me to be gone for three months and then come home and start bossing him around.”
But as the outlet reported, Hackman had started getting closer with his kids again in recent years.
Image credits: Prime Video
Image credits: Prime Video
The 95-year-old and his wife were found deceased inside their New Mexico home on February 26, by a maintenance worker who had shown up to do a routine sweep. The actor was found in the entryway, while Arakawa lay in the bathroom.
Theories floated around for a while. Some suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, while others were questioning whether foul play had been involved. On February 28, however, these were debunked by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
As stated by authorities, Hackman had died from a heart disease, with Alzheimer’s as a contributing factor. Arakawa passed due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but possibly fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings.
Image credits: SW German Shepherd Rescue
Upon further investigation, police suspected Arakawa’s day of death was February 11, as there had been no further communication or activity made by the pianist.
On the other hand, Hackman’s initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on February 17. There was an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation the next day, which was the last record of heart activity, causing chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell to assume he most likely passed on February 18.
Netizens commented on how Hackman’s kids had “barely spoken to their dad” over the years
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What do you think ?
Kiki Likes Sweets 9 months ago (edited)
I suppose it's a product of the internet age, but can't we just let them rest in peace without trawling through every aspect of their passing. All seems a bit crass, to me.
General Anaesthesia 9 months ago
Top-notch hyperbolic tabloid gutter "journalism".
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Tom De Paul 9 months ago
This article is poorly researched and written. New Mexico has adopted the Uniform Probate Code. It defined simultaneously deaths as occurring within 120 hours of each other-- 5 days, not 90. So she was already dead when he died and unable to inherit. The terms of his will governing contingent beneficiaries apply.
Binky Melnik 9 months ago (edited)
OFFS! In my mom’s last few months, she didn’t understand what a phone was. The nurses kept trying to hold the phone to her face so I could talk to her, but she was frightened by anything she didn’t recognize and so swatted it away from her. Hackman was even older than she was; I can imagine him also being confused by phones. They were just upsetting noisemakers to my mom. I had to accept that I couldn’t speak to her, so I quit calling. I can totally understand why the kids didn’t try, but I see they’re being vilified everywhere … likely by very lucky people who never had to deal with an old person who doesn’t understand phones, recognize people or things, and are frightened by *everything*. Some day, when they have an old parent they can’t communicate with, I hope they remember how they shat on Hackman’s kids without understanding how old brains work (or rather don’t work). ETA: Wow; I just checked and it was her last 26 months I couldn’t get to her via phone. My memory’s going, too. 😰
Tom De Paul 9 months ago
And so, knowing this, why didn't they (you) visit?
Load More Replies...
Kiki Likes Sweets 9 months ago (edited)
I suppose it's a product of the internet age, but can't we just let them rest in peace without trawling through every aspect of their passing. All seems a bit crass, to me.
General Anaesthesia 9 months ago
Top-notch hyperbolic tabloid gutter "journalism".
Load More Replies... Tom De Paul 9 months ago
This article is poorly researched and written. New Mexico has adopted the Uniform Probate Code. It defined simultaneously deaths as occurring within 120 hours of each other-- 5 days, not 90. So she was already dead when he died and unable to inherit. The terms of his will governing contingent beneficiaries apply.
Binky Melnik 9 months ago (edited)
OFFS! In my mom’s last few months, she didn’t understand what a phone was. The nurses kept trying to hold the phone to her face so I could talk to her, but she was frightened by anything she didn’t recognize and so swatted it away from her. Hackman was even older than she was; I can imagine him also being confused by phones. They were just upsetting noisemakers to my mom. I had to accept that I couldn’t speak to her, so I quit calling. I can totally understand why the kids didn’t try, but I see they’re being vilified everywhere … likely by very lucky people who never had to deal with an old person who doesn’t understand phones, recognize people or things, and are frightened by *everything*. Some day, when they have an old parent they can’t communicate with, I hope they remember how they shat on Hackman’s kids without understanding how old brains work (or rather don’t work). ETA: Wow; I just checked and it was her last 26 months I couldn’t get to her via phone. My memory’s going, too. 😰
Tom De Paul 9 months ago
And so, knowing this, why didn't they (you) visit?
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