Gene Hackman’s $80M will names late wife Betsy Arakawa as sole beneficiary, leaves out his children
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Gene Hackman’s final will has surfaced, revealing that he left his entire $80 million estate to his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
However, since Arakawa tragically died just one week before him, questions remain regarding the ultimate fate of his fortune.
Gene Hackman's unsettled inheritance amid his and Betsy Arakawa's tragic deaths
Documents obtained by Us Weekly confirm that Hackman had not updated his will since June 2005, meaning his children, Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58 were not listed as beneficiaries.
Some reports suggest that, due to Arakawa’s prior death, the inheritance could be redirected to them, though no legal confirmation has been made.
The Daily Mail also reported that Christopher has hired an estate attorney, signaling potential legal action regarding the estate’s future.
Hackman and Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home in late February.
Authorities confirmed the causes of death, with the state’s chief medical examiner, Dr Heather Jarrell, determining that Arakawa succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but fatal disease transmitted through rodent droppings.
She is believed to have died on the evening of February 11.
Hackman, unaware of her death, reportedly died a week later, on February 18, due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease listed as a contributing factor.
Gene Hackman's estate's legal petition to block release of sensitive images
As questions swirl over the future of Hackman’s estate, his representatives have taken legal action to protect the couple’s privacy.
A petition was filed on March 11 to prevent the public release of sensitive images and investigative materials related to their deaths.
“A preliminary injunction is necessary to protect the estates of Mr Hackman and Ms Arakawa-Hackman’s right to privacy,” the document stated.
The estate emphasized that Hackman and Arakawa “placed significant value on their privacy and took affirmative, vigilant steps to safeguard” it throughout their lives.
Their legal team is requesting that photos, videos, and body-camera footage from the investigation remain sealed.
Transparency vs privacy debate
The petition has sparked a debate over privacy and public transparency.
Amanda Lavin, legal director of the nonprofit New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, raised concerns that restricting access to these records could impact public accountability.
“I do think it does infringe on transparency if the court were to prohibit release of all the investigation records, including the autopsies,” Lavin told the Associated Press.
“The whole idea of those records being available is to ensure accountability in the way those investigations are done,” he added.
