Why People Say Gene Hackman's Children 'Don't Deserve' His Inheritance

The Oscar-winning actor and his wife were found dead in their Santa Fe home on February 26, 2025. One of their dogs also died, while an update has been given on the two surviving ones.

Gene Hackman left behind an estate worth millions, a fortune amassed through decades of success in Hollywood and literature. However, the division of his wealth has sparked online discussions, particularly regarding his three children from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese, Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie.

The legendary actor and novelist, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were discovered deceased in their Santa Fe home, raising questions about the circumstances of their passing.

The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator and the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office provided answers, shedding light on the details of their deaths.

These findings may also influence the distribution of their estate, including their $3.8 million Santa Fe residence and other assets that sum up to about $80 million.

As a legal process unfolds, speculation continues about how Hackman’s estate will be allocated and whether his children will ultimately inherit a share of his fortune.

Some social media users strongly believe that Hackman’s children should not inherit his fortune, citing their alleged lack of involvement in his later years.

One person was particularly adamant, saying, "Well, I hope that fortune goes to anybody but his children! Sorry, I disliked my dad because of his wife, and I still called them once or twice a week to check on them.... This man was 95 with dementia for Gods [sic] sake! And you don't check in on him??? I hope the two remaining German shepherds get their fortune!!!"

Another netizen echoed this sentiment, "Kids should get nothing so long these people are gone and no once checked on them [sic]." One person expressed disbelief at the situation, "3 children? Nobody check [sic] on them daily? Sad."

Many people pointed to the lack of communication between Hackman and his children, "His kids didn't care to check on their father, but you best believe they'll find plenty of time to get every single penny from him. IMO [sic], they don't deserve jack."

A comment with similar views read, "His children shouldn't get any of his money! A simple phone call to their dad, especially knowing the health conditions he had." One individual bluntly stated, "His two daughters are so devastated by his death, they didn’t even know he had died for two weeks?? If only they had given him a call."

The debate continues online, with many convinced that Gene Hackman's estate should go to someone, or something, other than his children. Under New Mexico law, if a couple passes away within 120 hours of each other, their deaths are classified as simultaneous.

This legal distinction could impact inheritance proceedings, particularly since Arakawa, who is from Hawaii, had no children of her own. This means that Hackman’s estate will likely be divided among beneficiaries other than Arakawa.

According to legal experts, estate laws in New Mexico generally require a person to outlive their spouse by at least five days to inherit under standard wills. Since Hackman survived Arakawa by a week, the estate’s distribution will follow the terms outlined in his personal legal documents.

Details about Hackman and Arakawa’s financial arrangements remain private. Hence, experts suggest that given Hackman’s significant wealth and access to legal counsel, the couple likely had wills or trusts in place.

In many cases, estate plans mirror state laws, but some may establish different conditions for inheritance. It is common for married couples to leave everything to each other, but with Arakawa passing first, the primary question now is who Hackman designated as his beneficiaries.

John Budagher, an attorney specializing in estate law, noted that people often name their children as heirs but sometimes choose friends, caretakers, or even charitable organizations. “It’s your money. You’re allowed to give it to whomever you want, including a donkey sanctuary in Connecticut," he noted.

The timeline of Hackman’s legal documents could also play a crucial role. If his will or trust was updated recently, especially given his battle with Alzheimer’s, it may be subject to scrutiny.

Challenges could arise if significant changes were made in later years, particularly if assets were redirected to unexpected beneficiaries.

Other potential factors include the presence of any pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements and whether Hackman’s children or other parties will make claims to his estate.

While legal proceedings could begin soon, New Mexico law allows up to three years for probate cases to be filed, meaning the final resolution may take time.

As legal matters regarding Hackman's wealth are being figured out, authorities recently held a press conference shedding light on the final hours of his wife, before her passing. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza detailed her movements on February 11, the day authorities said she died.

Mendoza revealed that Arakawa engaged in a routine day that ended with unanswered emails and a lingering mystery. Arakawa's day began with an email to her massage therapist in the morning, followed by a trip to a grocery store in the afternoon.

Surveillance footage later captured her making a quick stop at CVS Pharmacy. Mendoza noted that she wore a mask in public that day, a habit friends say she followed to protect her husband, who had Alzheimer's, from illnesses.

Her errands continued with a visit to a pet food store before she returned home around 5:15 p.m. That marked the last known activity from Arakawa, as she did not respond to any emails after that.

Mendoza also shared that two days earlier, on February 9, Arakawa had picked up Zinna, the couple's dog, from a veterinary procedure, which may explain why the pet was found crated.

However, apart from what she did, information about what Arakawa failed to do on February 11 has also been shared. Hackman's wife never picked up the prescription dog food and medication she had ordered for one of her beloved pets from Gruda Veterinary Hospital in southwest Santa Fe.

For years, Arakawa had been a regular at the clinic, always ensuring her three dogs, Zinna, Bear, and Nikita, had everything they needed. When she failed to collect the order, the clinic staff grew concerned.

A week later, after February 17, the veterinary office attempted to reach her, leaving reminders that the food was ready for pickup. But there was no response as it was too late by then.

Robert Gruda, the hospital's owner noted, "She was devoted to those dogs. She was consistent, predictable. We knew something was wrong when she didn't pick up the food on time."

When asked whether anyone was assisting with Hackman's care, Mendoza stated there was no evidence of a caretaker at the residence. Arakawa seems to have been the only one caring for her husband, managing many aspects of his daily routine.

The classical pianist arranged his golf outings, monitored his diet due to his long-standing heart issues, and even diluted his wine with soda water. As a dedicated companion, she also typed and edited his handwritten novels.

In his final years, she took on the full weight of caregiving, determined to be by his side until the very end. Sadly, as per authorities, Hackman and Arakawa passed away just a week apart, both from natural causes.

Arakawa passed away, likely on February 11. Her body was found on the bathroom floor of the home she shared with Hackman. She had succumbed to a rare but deadly rodent-borne illness, hantavirus.

Alone in the house, Hackman, suffering from advanced Alzheimer's, lived for another week before he passed away due to heart disease on February 18. He collapsed in a mudroom with a cane and sunglasses nearby.

Questions remain about those final days. Did Hackman realize his wife was gone? Was he aware that one of their dogs, 12-year-old Zinna, had also died inside a crate? The details of his last moments remain a mystery.

Still, a close friend of the couple has shared a reassuring update about Hackman and Arakawa's two canine babies, offering a small comfort after the couple's sudden passing.

The two surviving dogs are now safe and adjusting to their new reality, according to the couple's longtime friend. Unlike Zinna, Bear, a German shepherd, and Nikki, a German shepherd mix, were found alive and investigators said the dogs appeared to have had access to a doggy door.

One dog was discovered near Arakawa's body, while the other was found outside the home, Mendoza confirmed. Currently, both surviving dogs are being cared for by Joey Padilla, the owner of Santa Fe Tails, a local boarding facility that the couple frequently used for their pets.

Padilla told ABC News, "They are safe and adjusting." He also shared that he will continue caring for the dogs until he receives further instructions regarding Arakawa's wishes for them.

Padilla spoke fondly of the late couple, describing them as "amazing friends and dog lovers." He added, "Those dogs were Betsy's babies."

Padilla, who had known Hackman and Arakawa for more than ten years, explained that he used to dine out with them often before the pandemic began. In recent years, however, he saw Hackman less frequently because Arakawa wanted to protect her husband's health by limiting his contact with others.

Padilla recalled the last time he saw Arakawa, which was in January when she brought Bear to Santa Fe Tails. He described their final conversation, "She was the same old, just, you know, 'Hey, how's it going, good to see you.'" Reacting to the couple's deaths, he expressed, "I'm terribly saddened. They were really good people."

Other people who knew the couple, including friends and family, have also spoken out. Hackman and Arakawa had always valued their privacy, but in their later years, they became even more withdrawn.

Friends who once visited them regularly noticed that the couple stopped inviting people over, preferring to spend time alone in their Santa Fe home.

Barbara Lenihan, a longtime friend who co-owned a home décor store with Arakawa, recalled how their social circle grew smaller over time. "People loved to be around them," she shared. "We used to spend a lot of time at their house, but it'd been a while since they were comfortable having others over."

Her husband, Daniel Lenihan, a writer and close friend of Hackman's for over 30 years, admitted it had been "years" since he had last seen him in person. Despite their growing isolation, no one suspected anything was wrong.

Friends believed Hackman and Arakawa were simply enjoying a quiet life together — until their sudden deaths raised questions about what had really been happening behind closed doors.

Although the couple had distanced themselves from most social interactions, Arakawa still kept in touch with a few people. One of them was her longtime friend Barbara, who had exchanged emails with her in the weeks leading up to her death.

Nothing in their conversations suggested anything was wrong, and Arakawa gave no indication that she was in distress. Hackman's youngest daughter, Leslie Anne Allen, also shared that she had not spoken to her father or his wife for a few months.

"We were close," she said, adding that despite their lack of recent communication, "everything was normal, and everything was good." She credited Arakawa with taking care of her father and making sure he remained in good health. However, one person in Arakawa's life had noticed an unusual silence.

For years, Arakawa had always made it a point to check in with her 91-year-old mother, Yoshie Feaster, who lives in Hawaii every one or two months. But according to Feaster's longtime housekeeper, Keiko, the calls had stopped abruptly in October 2024.

"We were thinking, what happened?" Keiko shared, explaining that they had started to worry when months passed without a word from Arakawa. When New Mexico authorities informed Feaster of her daughter's passing, the tragic news didn't fully register.

Due to her dementia, Feaster soon forgot what had happened. "She was very upset," Keiko said. "But right now, she's kind of normal." With Arakawa's silence going unnoticed for months and no immediate alarms raised by friends or family, the first signs of trouble became clear when a worker arrived at the couple's home.

On February 26, 2025, a maintenance worker arrived at the Hackman and Arakawa's home outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. As he approached, he noticed something alarming. Arakawa's body was visible through a window, completely still. Immediately, he called 911.

The emotional 911 call captured the worker's distress as he urged authorities to respond quickly. "Damn," he muttered repeatedly, clearly shaken by what he had seen. He also noted that the house was locked, so he couldn't get in.

Deputies arrived at the scene around 1:45 p.m. and found the front door unsecured and slightly open. As they stepped inside, what they discovered led to an in-depth investigation that finally ended with the authorities revealing the cause and circumstances surrounding their death.