Gene Hackman’s Estate and Family Legacy Face Complex Uncertainty

The actor and his wife’s deaths, alongside their dog, reveal intricate legal and personal challenges over their $80 million estate.

Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, died of separate causes in February, with Hackman passing a week after Arakawa in their Santa Fe home.
Hackman’s will, last updated in 2005, left his estate to Arakawa, but her will designated assets to charity if the couple died within 90 days of each other.
Their dog Zinna, found dead alongside them, likely died of dehydration and starvation, while their two other dogs survived due to access to a doggy door.
While Hackman’s three adult children were excluded from his will, the legal proceedings surrounding his trust may still impact their inheritance prospects.
The family has requested privacy and sought to block the release of investigative records, citing the couple’s lifelong commitment to safeguarding their personal lives.