One year ago, Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawana died within days of each other at their secluded home. Now, the great actor’s final wishes are continuing to raise questions
One year on from their deaths, mystery continues to surround the £62 million estate of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, the pianist Betsy Arakawana.
On February 26, 2025, Gene and Betsy were discovered lifeless at the home they’d shared for 35 years, their bodies partially mummified. Betsy, 65, had succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome – an uncommon illness transmitted by rats. Her 95-year-old husband Gene, whom she remained fiercely protective of right up until the end, died around one week later, from heart disease, with his advanced Alzheimer’s disease being a contributing factor.
While an environmental survey of the sprawling estate in Santa Fe, New Mexico, discovered rodent faeces in several outbuildings, none were found to be in the main house, which the couple had so lovingly designed together. Now the unique property, which was previously featured in Architectural Digest, is on the market as of last month, selling for $6.25 million, or approximately £4.6 million.
This comes amid questions over Gene’s enormous £62 million estate. In his first marriage to Faye Maltese, The Poseidon Adventure star welcomed three children: Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58. And while one might presume his vast fortune was automatically left to them, this wasn’t quite the case.
READ MORE: Gene Hackman’s Santa Fe home up for sale for eye watering sum after couple found dead
Indeed, in his will, two-time Oscar-winner Hackman excluded his three adult children, instead bequeathing his entire estate to Betsy. However, given that Betsy predeceased her husband, it’s understood that the three Hackman siblings could stand to inherit their father’s wealth anyway, provided, of course, that no alternative heir is specified in his will.
Page Six reports that Gene’s Last Will and Testament was dated June 7, 2005, and does not nominate any of his three children to act as a personal representative. It’s said to request that two trusts handle his “final directions”: the Gene Hackman Living Trust and the Gene Hackman Revocable Trust. On March 20, 2025, lawyer Gregory W. MacKenzie filed an appearance on behalf of Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie; however, no further filings by MacKenzie were made after this date.
Discussing the significance of this with the publication, legal expert Gregory Doll explained: “The fact that Gene’s children had a lawyer make an appearance for them a year ago was designed for that lawyer to receive notice of all of the events of the lawsuit, which would then allow that lawyer to protect the children’s interests as necessary.
“The fact that he has not filed any documents since that time means that there likely have not been any issues that have caused the children to be concerned about the way the court has handled the situation to date.” Doll added: “It appears at this time, they are not fighting about anything the court is doing, just seeking to be notified of all developments in the case to protect their interests if and when they need to do so.”
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It’s not immediately apparent who will profit from the sale of Gene and Betsy’s six-bedroom property, which is tucked away within a gated community. In their final years, Gene and Betsy lived a relatively reclusive life, a far cry from the red carpets and premieres they’d once known.
While Gene valued his privacy, he also previously spoke candidly on how his glittering career had affected his family life, making a poignant admission to The New York Times back in 1989. Ambitious Gene, who’d come from humble origins, shared: “You become very selfish as an actor. Even though I had a family, I accepted roles that would keep us apart for three or four months at a stretch. The allure of the money and recognition was too much for the poor boy in me to resist.”
In their early years of family life, times were tough – with the Hackmans living in a New York City apartment. Then, in his late thirties, Gene had his big breakthrough with films such as Bonnie & Clyde (1967) and I Never Sang For My Father (1970), catapulting him to critical and commercial acclaim. Even though the family was suddenly enjoying the comforts they could never before have imagined, Gene’s newfound success brought with it plenty of additional challenges. As his star soared, the French Connection thespian often found himself far from home on shoots, which meant he often missed out on quality time with his kids.
Opening up in a candid 2000 interview with The Irish Independent, Gene reflected: “It’s tough being the son or daughter of a celebrity. I couldn’t always be home with them when they were growing up, and then, living in California, they’ve had my success always hanging over their heads.”
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