The will of the late-actor Gene Hackman was entirely left to his wife Betsy Arakawa when he first penned it back in 1995, but both Hackman and Arakawa’s untimely deaths have left the fate of the star’s estate unclear.
Hackman’s three children – son Christopher (who is the same age as Arakawa) and two daughters Leslie and Elizabeth – were left out entirely of the will that is worth $80M USD ($126M AUD), per TMZ.
Hackman’s children were entirely left out of his will. (Source: Getty Images)
TMZ also reported that Christopher has recently hired a prominent California trust and estate attorney, Andrew M. Katzenstein, indicating that Hackman’s eldest child and only son may be working to contest the will. It is not confirmed if Leslie or Elizabeth are involved.
Hackman’s relationship with his children was mostly left out of the public eye, but mentioned in a 2011 interview with GQ that he had “lost touch” with Christopher as an adult.
“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,” Hackman said.
“It was very tough for me to be gone for three months and then come home and start bossing him around.”
Arakawa’s will mostly left all of her assets to her husband, but it also stated that if she and Hackman were to die within 90 days of each other – considered a ‘simultaneous death’ – then all of her money would be sent to charity.
Hackman and Arakawa were both found dead in February 2025, however it is not yet determined what exact date it was when the pair died. Arakawa’s cause of death was found to be caused by complications with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Arakawa was also found with partially mummified hands and feet when first discovered on February 27.
Hackman’s cause of death was determined to be related to his ongoing heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
