Gene Hackman’s surprising will: Leaves everything to deceased wife, nothing for Kids

VANGUARD

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman left his $80 million fortune to his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, but her death days before his own has thrown his estate into uncertainty.

According to TMZ, Hackman, 95, named Arakawa as his sole beneficiary in 1995 and never updated his will.

With both now gone, his children—Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58—may contest the will, as a prominent estate attorney has reportedly been hired.

Hackman previously admitted his Hollywood career strained his relationships.

“Even though I had a family, I took jobs that would separate us for three or four months at a time,” he told The New York Times in 1989.

Still, his children said they had grown closer in recent years, releasing a statement after his passing:

“To us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely.”

Hackman and Arakawa were found dead Feb. 26 in separate rooms of their Santa Fe home.

Authorities believe Arakawa, 65, died first, likely on Feb. 11, from hantavirus, a rare rodent-borne disease.

Hackman, who had advanced Alzheimer’s, died a week later of severe heart disease.

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VANGUARD