By Gwurld4026 
Gene Hackman’s Will: Fortune for Wife, Nothing for Kids
Recent reports indicate that the late actor Gene Hackman, who passed away on February 18, 2025, at the age of 95, had designated his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as the sole beneficiary of his estimated $80 million estate. This decision has raised questions regarding the inheritance rights of his three children from a previous marriage: Christopher, Leslie, and Elizabeth.
Hackman’s will, reportedly last updated in 1995, did not mention his children, leaving the entirety of his fortune to Arakawa. Complicating matters, Arakawa predeceased Hackman by approximately a week, passing away on February 11, 2025, from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Hackman, who was suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s disease, died shortly after due to a cardiac event.
The couple resided in New Mexico, a community property state, which means that, in the absence of a prenuptial agreement, Arakawa would have been entitled to half of the marital assets. Arakawa’s will contained a clause stating that if both she and Hackman died within 90 days of each other, her assets would be directed to charitable causes.
Given these circumstances, the distribution of Hackman’s estate is uncertain. His children, who were not included in his will, may have legal grounds to contest the estate’s distribution. Reports suggest that Hackman’s son, Christopher, has already engaged a prominent estate attorney, indicating a potential legal challenge.
The situation is further complicated by the couple’s simultaneous deaths and the specific provisions in their wills. Legal experts anticipate that the interpretation of these wills, alongside state inheritance laws, will play a crucial role in determining the final distribution of the estate.
As this legal process unfolds, it serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities that can arise in estate planning, especially when provisions may not account for unforeseen circumstances such as the nearly simultaneous passing of spouses.