Gene Hackman’s $80,000,000 fortune sparks mystery with children ‘left out of will’
The actor died last month.
There is yet another mystery surrounding Gene Hackman’s death after his will was uncovered – amid reports his $80million fortune was left to his late wife.
The bodies of the Runaway Jury actor, 95, and wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered at their home in Santa Fe at the end of February, along with their dog.
Last week, officials confirmed that his cause of death was due to heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s as a ‘significant contributory factor’.
They also shared that Arakawa may have died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome days before her partner.
The Oscar-winner’s will has now been unveiled and obtained by TMZ, appearing to show that he left his entire fortune to his partner, and made her the sole beneficiary in 1995.
According to the outlet, his three children, Christopher, Leslie and Elizabeth – who he welcomed with ex-wife Faye Maltese – are not named in the documents, with everything going to the classical pianist.
The bodies of Gene and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found last month (Picture: AP)It has been claimed that Arakawa’s own will leaves most of her assets to her husband, but reportedly includes a provision which states that if they died within 90 days of each other, it would be considered a simultaneous death.
In that case, the documents stipulate that her assets will go to charity.
The publication reports that, despite not being included in Hackman’s will, his children would ‘presumably get his share’ as they are his direct living heirs.
Gene was last pictured here in 2024, a year before his death (Picture: Backgrid)Hackman – who was last pictured in 2024 – and Arakawa tied the knot in December 1991, after dating for around seven years.
They were found dead in their home just a few weeks ago, with the Unforgiven superstar discovered in the kitchen while the musician was in the kitchen with one of their dogs.
Officers confirmed that they had been ‘dead for some time’, with their bodies showing signs of decomposition and mummification.
Gene fathered daughters Leslie and Elizabeth, and son Christopher, from a previous marriage (Picture: Getty)Speaking in a press conference last week, New Mexico Chief Medical Investigator Dr Heather Jarrell suggested that Hackman died around February 18, due to heart disease.
She said that advanced Alzheimer’s disease was seen ‘as a significant contributory factor’.
Jarrell also announced that his wife’s last known movements came a week earlier, on February 11, and that she died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
In a heartbreaking update, she explained that it was ‘quite possible’ that he was unaware of his wife’s death, due to his increased Alzheimer’s condition.
What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?According to the Mayo Clinic, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare infectious disease that begins with flu-like symptoms, and can rapidly progress to a more severe condition – leading to lung and heart problems.
It can be carried by different types of rodents – infection is usually caused by inhaling hantaviruses that have become airborne from rodent urine, droppings or saliva.
It is not transmitted from person to person.
Confusion over their wills comes after it was revealed that a representative for the couple’s estate is now seeking to block Hackman and Arakawa’s autopsy and investigative reports – especially photographs and police body-cam footage – from being released publicly.
The Guardian reports that Julia Peters requested for the records to be sealed in a bid to protect their right to privacy in grief amid an ongoing police investigation into their deaths.
She reportedly filed the request on Tuesday, emphasizing their discreet lifestyle in Santa Fe as well as the possibly shocking nature of photographs and video that could be released.
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