The Oscar-winning actor and his wife were discovered dead in their Santa Fe home on February 26, 2025. One of their dogs also perished, and an update on the two that survived has been provided. Gene Hackman left an estate worth millions, accumulated during decades of achievement in Hollywood and books. However, the distribution of his riches has prompted online debate, particularly over his three children from his former marriage to Faye Maltese: Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie.
The famed actor and novelist, together with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were discovered dead in their Santa Fe home, raising doubts about the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator and the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office gave answers, putting light on the circumstances behind their deaths.
These results may potentially have an impact on the distribution of their estate, which includes their $3.8 million Santa Fe home and other assets totaling over $80 million. As the legal procedure progresses, curiosity grows about how Hackman’s inheritance will be divided and whether his children will eventually get a portion of his riches.
Some social media users are convinced that Hackman’s children should not inherit his riches, given their apparent lack of interest in his later years. One guy was extremely insistent, stating, “Well, I hope that fortune goes to anyone other than his children!” Sorry, I loathed my father because of his wife, but I still called them once or twice a week to check in…. For God’s sake, this man was 95 years old and had dementia!
And you don’t check in with him??? I hope the two remaining German shepherds get rich!!!” Another netizen shared this sentiment, saying, “Kids should get nothing as long as these people are gone and no one checks on them [sic].” One guy voiced amazement at the situation: “Three children? Nobody checks on them every day? Sad.”
Many individuals cited a lack of connection between Hackman and his children, saying, “His kids didn’t care to check on their father, but you better believe they’ll find plenty of time to get every single penny from him.” “In my opinion, they don’t deserve anything.” A reply with similar views stated, “His children should not receive any of his money! “A simple phone call to their father, especially given his health conditions.”
One person plainly commented, “His two daughters are so devastated by his death, they didn’t even know he had died for two weeks?” “If only they had called him.”
The dispute continues online, with many believing that Gene Hackman’s estate should be left to someone or anything other than his children. Under New Mexico law, if a couple dies within 120 hours of each other, their deaths are considered simultaneous.
This legal distinction may have an influence on inheritance proceedings, especially since Arakawa, who is from Hawaii, does not have any children. This suggests that Hackman’s estate will most likely be distributed among beneficiaries other than Arakawa. According to legal experts, estate laws in New Mexico typically require a person to outlive their spouse by at least five days in order to inherit under normal wills.
Hackman survived Arakawa by a week, thus the estate will be distributed according to the provisions established in his personal legal documents. Details about Hackman and Arakawa’s financial arrangements are kept hidden. According to experts, given Hackman’s enormous wealth and access to legal counsel, the couple most certainly had wills or trusts in place.