Gene Hackman’s Children “Not Named In His Will, But Could Still Claim Estate”: Report

Gene Hackman left his $80 million estate to his late wife Betsy Arakawa in his will, with no mention of his three children from a previous marriage. Authorities have determined that Arakawa pre-deceased Hackman by as much as a week, potentially rendering his will invalid and allowing his children to claim the estate under intestate succession laws.

The bodies of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were discovered in their New Mexico home on February 26, with Arakawa dying from a virus on February 11 and Hackman passing away possibly a week later from natural causes.

For more information see Caroline Frost “Gene Hackman’s Children “Not Named In His Will, But Could Still Claim Estate”: Report“, Yahoo! News, March 16, 2025. 

Special thanks to David S. Luber (Florida Probate Attorney) for bringing this article to my attention.