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Gene Hackman: Millionaire’s will and children’s inheritance mystery

The death of Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa opens up questions about the famous actor’s inheritance. The children, excluded from the will, could still inherit thanks to inheritance laws

The death of legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman has left open a tangled question regarding his $80 million inheritance. Hackman, who was found dead on 26 February at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, had excluded his three children from his will, naming his second wife, Betsy Arakawa, as sole beneficiary. However, the latter was found dead a week before her husband, which could complicate the testamentary provisions.

A disputed inheritance: children not named in the will

The famous performer of ‘The Violent Arm of the Law’ had three children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese: Christopher (65), Elizabeth (62) and Leslie (58). Although they were not mentioned in the will, they may still be entitled to the inheritance. Lawyer Tre Lovell explained that, according to the laws of intestate succession, the children could become the legal heirs unless another beneficiary is identified.

The couple’s mysterious death and Arakawa’s will

Gene Hackman had updated his will in 2005, but did not foresee the possibility of his wife’s untimely death. According to the authorities, Betsy Arakawa passed away on 11 February, about a week before Hackman, due to a rare virus. His will stipulated that if they both died within 90 days of each other, the estate would pass to a trust for charitable purposes.

The details of the tragic discovery

The couple was found dead in separate rooms of their $4 million home in Santa Fe. Arakawa was found in the bathroom with some pills scattered around, while Hackman, who suffered from Alzheimer’s and a serious heart condition, was in the back of the house, in slippers, with his cane and sunglasses beside him. Investigators concluded that Hackman died seven days after his wife, probably due to pain and the deterioration of his physical condition.

Legal prospects for Hackman’s children

Now, all eyes are on the actor’s children, who will have to prove that the will is no longer valid because Arakawa died before Hackman. The process could drag on, but according to lawyer Lovell, there is a good chance that the inheritance could pass into their hands. If so, the Hackman family could keep the estate intact, despite the initial testamentary dispositions.

The case of Hackman’s inheritance raises complex legal issues, but one thing is certain: the Hollywood actor’s story continues to make waves even after his death, leaving an imprint not only in the world of film, but also in the courtroom.

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