Gene Hackman’s Children “Not Named In His Will, But Could Still Claim Estate”: Report – Deadline
By Caroline Frost pmc-media-editor-2024
Following the poignant circumstances of the deaths last month of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, more uncertainty lingers over what will happen to his $80million fortune.
BBC News reports that the will of the double Oscar winner has been released, showing Hackman left his entire estate to his late wife, with no mention of his three children from his earlier marriage.
However, following the discovery of their bodies on February 26, authorities have established that Arakawa pre-deceased her husband by as much as a week. If this is ascertained, the BBC quotes an LA attorney saying this would render Hackman’s will invalid, and mean his children could have a claim to the estate.
Related Stories
Legal
Gene Hackman Died From Alzheimer’s & Severe Heart Disease After His Wife Died Several Days Before
News
Oscars TV Review: Conan O’Brien Nails It In Hosting Debut On A Night Of Celebration For Cinema, L.A. & Gene Hackman
California attorney Tre Lovell told the BBC: “The estate will actually be probated in accordance with intestate succession laws and the children would be lawfully next in line to inherit.”
Watch on Deadline
They would also need to prove that the will is invalid because Arakawa died before Hackman, he added.
Arakawa’s will left all her assets to her husband, with the provision that if he predeceased her, they would go into a trust and then to charity.
The couple’s bodies were discovered in their Sante Fe, New Mexico home on February 26, and foul play soon eliminated as a course. Authorities said Arakawa died from a virus on February 11, with her husband surviving possibly a week longer, before he died of natural causes.
Hackman enjoyed a long career as one of Hollywood’s most critically respected as well as popular actors. He won two Academy Awards, the first for his lead role in The French Connection (1971) and the second for his supporting role in Unforgiven (1997).Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networksWe want to hear from you! Send us a tip using our annonymous form.Sign up for our breaking news alerts
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2025 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Source: http://deadline.com/2025/03/gene-hackman-children-not-named-will-claim-estate-report-1236327755/
