Gene Hackman’s Estate in Limbo: Legendary Actor’s Will Excludes His Children

“His Will Left Everything to His Wife, Who Died Before Him” – Uncertainty Looms Over Hackman’s $80 Million Fortune

The Hollywood icon’s final wishes raise questions as legal battles over his inheritance could emerge

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📍 Santa Fe, New Mexico, March 15: The estate of two-time Academy Award winner Gene Hackman is now shrouded in uncertainty after revelations that his living will excluded his three adult children—leaving everything to his wife, Betsy, who passed away days before him.

Hackman, 95, died around February 17 due to severe cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease listed as a contributing factor, according to officials in New Mexico. His wife, Betsy Arakawa Hackman, died at least a week earlier in their home from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but severe respiratory illness.

Now, with both deceased, the fate of Hackman’s estimated $80 million fortune remains unclear.

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🔹 Hackman’s Will and the Missing Inheritance for His Children

Hackman was married to Betsy for 30 years but had three children—Christopher Allen (65), Leslie Anne (58), and Elizabeth Jean (62)—from his first marriage to Faye Maltese. The actor was candid about his distant relationship with his children, as he was frequently away filming during their upbringing.

According to TMZ, Hackman’s will, written in June 2005 and submitted to Santa Fe County Court on March 6, left nothing to his three children and instead granted all assets to Betsy, who was also named as the sole executor.

However, an unusual provision in Betsy’s own will could complicate matters further.

📢 “Betsy’s will states that if both she and Gene died within 90 days of each other, their deaths would be considered simultaneous,” reports TMZ. “In this case, all of her assets would go to charity.”

Since the Hackmans passed away within a short span, this clause may ultimately determine the fate of the estate.

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🔹 A Hidden Trust May Hold the Key to Hackman’s Estate

Despite the exclusion of his children from his will, a trust agreement made in September 1995 may give them a glimmer of hope.

📢 “Gene had a trust established, and his will ultimately leaves everything to the trust,” a source told The Hollywood Reporter.

Unlike wills, trusts are not a matter of public record, so the final beneficiaries of Hackman’s estate remain unknown.

The GeBe Revocable Trust, originally set up with Betsy as the successor, was adjusted in 2019 after the death of its original executor. At that time, Julia Peters, chief counsel at Santa Fe’s Avalon Trust, was appointed as Hackman’s personal estate representative.

Following Hackman’s death, Peters filed court documents listing Christopher, Leslie, and Elizabeth as his heirs, per People Magazine. She now represents Hackman’s estate moving forward, which could influence future claims on the inheritance.

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🔹 Will Hackman’s Children Contest the Estate?

Legal experts suggest that the complexity of the will and trust could lead to potential legal disputes.

📢 “If the trust was structured to include Gene’s children as residual beneficiaries, they could still inherit a portion of his estate,” legal analyst David Sherman explained.

However, if Betsy’s will and the 90-day clause take precedence, the entirety of the Hackman fortune could be directed to charitable causes instead.

With no clear public details on the trust’s beneficiaries, Hackman’s three children may now have to fight for a share of their father’s legacy.

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🔹 Hollywood Icon Leaves Behind a Lasting Legacy

Hackman, a legendary actor known for films like The French Connection, Unforgiven, and Superman, retired from acting in 2004. Despite his distant relationship with his children, he remained a revered figure in Hollywood, winning two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, and two BAFTAs over his illustrious career.

With his estate now in legal limbo, the fate of his $80 million fortune will likely become the subject of ongoing scrutiny and speculation.