Gene Hackman Estate Faces Legal Challenges Over $80 Million Fortune

The late actor's estranged children may contest his will under New Mexico law, as his estate seeks to protect privacy in ongoing investigations.

Gene Hackman’s $80 million estate was left to a trust with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as the sole beneficiary, but her death raises questions about inheritance.
Hackman’s estranged children, excluded from his will, may challenge the estate using New Mexico legal precedents citing 'suspicious circumstances.'
Body camera footage released on March 21 shows the scene outside the couple’s home but was redacted to protect privacy, with further restrictions on investigative materials in place.
Betsy Arakawa reportedly expressed fears of being followed by an unknown man months before her death, adding a layer of complexity to the case.
The couple’s deaths have been ruled as natural causes—Arakawa from hantavirus and Hackman from heart disease complicated by Alzheimer’s.