The $80 Million Fight: What Christopher Allen Hackman Is Doing Today After Gene Hackman's Death

Christopher Allen Hackman, the eldest son of legendary two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, has been thrust into the national spotlight in a way he has consistently avoided for decades, as of this late December 2025. The 65-year-old computer programmer and aspiring filmmaker is currently the central figure in a high-stakes legal battle following the tragic and sudden passing of his father and stepmother, Betsy Arakawa, in February 2025. The core of the controversy revolves around Gene Hackman's substantial $80 million estate and a will that reportedly excluded his three children from his first marriage.

The news of the will contest is the most significant public update on Christopher Allen Hackman’s life in years, pulling him from his private existence in Los Angeles into the dramatic and complex world of celebrity estate litigation. With the entire family reeling from the shocking events in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Christopher's decision to "lawyer up" signals a determined fight for what he and his siblings, Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne, believe is their rightful inheritance from the beloved actor's fortune. This move has created a clear, public division between Gene Hackman's surviving children and his final wishes, as outlined in the controversial document.

Christopher Allen Hackman: A Detailed Biography and Profile

Christopher Allen Hackman has maintained a remarkably low profile throughout his life, a stark contrast to the global fame of his father, Gene Hackman. Information about his personal and professional endeavors is scarce, a testament to his commitment to privacy. However, recent events have brought a clearer picture of the man behind the famous surname.

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• Full Name: Christopher Allen Hackman
• Date of Birth: 1960
• Age (as of late 2025): Approximately 65 years old
• Place of Birth: United States
• Parents: Gene Hackman (Father) and Faye Maltese (Mother)
• Siblings: Elizabeth Jean Hackman and Leslie Anne Hackman
• Marital Status: Married
• Spouse: Marian Ann Hackman
• Residence: Los Angeles, California
• Known Profession: Computer Programmer, Software Developer, aspiring Filmmaker
• Education: Details are private, but he is known to be highly educated in technology and software.

Born in 1960, Christopher was the first child of Gene Hackman and his first wife, Faye Maltese. The couple divorced in 1986 after 26 years of marriage. Like his sisters, Christopher's upbringing was marked by the presence of a father who was often away filming, a reality Gene Hackman himself lamented in later interviews, expressing regret over the time he missed with his children due to his demanding Hollywood career. Christopher’s life has been deliberately non-public, focusing on a career in technology and software development, though he has also expressed aspirations to follow his father into the film industry in a creative capacity.

The Shocking Events in Santa Fe: Gene Hackman's Death and the Aftermath

The entire Hackman family was rocked by the tragic news emanating from Santa Fe, New Mexico, in February 2025. Multiple reports confirmed that Gene Hackman, 95, and his second wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found deceased inside their New Mexico home in a gated community.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office confirmed the tragic discovery. Gene Hackman's cause of death was attributed to heart disease, while Betsy Arakawa’s cause of death was also released. The simultaneous passing of the couple, who had been married since 1991, immediately raised questions and intensified media scrutiny, especially in light of the subsequent legal developments.

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The immediate and profound impact of the loss on Christopher Allen Hackman and his sisters cannot be overstated. While their relationship with their father, the star of classics like The French Connection and Unforgiven, was often strained due to his work schedule, the bond remained. The subsequent revelation regarding the will, however, turned a private tragedy into a public legal spectacle.

The $80 Million Will Contest: Why Christopher Hackman Hired a Lawyer

The most current and pressing information regarding Christopher Allen Hackman today centers on his decision to formally challenge his late father’s will. The estate of Gene Hackman is estimated to be worth a substantial $80 million, a fortune built over a five-decade-long career that secured his place as one of Hollywood's most respected actors.

Sources close to the family and legal experts suggest that the will drafted by Gene Hackman reportedly left the entirety of his estate to his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and subsequently to various charities upon her passing. Crucially, the three children from his first marriage—Christopher Allen Hackman, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, and Leslie Anne Hackman—were allegedly not mentioned in the document.

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This exclusion has become the focal point of the legal dispute. Christopher, described as a man who values his privacy but is fiercely protective of his family, was the first of the siblings to take legal action. He retained a prominent lawyer, signaling his intent to contest the validity of the will.

The legal challenge is likely to focus on several key areas, common in celebrity will contests:

• Undue Influence: Christopher’s legal team may argue that Betsy Arakawa, who was 30 years younger than Gene Hackman, exerted undue influence over the actor in his later years, leading him to exclude his biological children from the will.
• Testamentary Capacity: Given Gene Hackman's advanced age (95) at the time of his death, questions about his mental capacity and awareness when the will was executed may be raised.
• Prior Promises: The children may present evidence of previous conversations or documents where Gene Hackman expressed an intent to provide for them, challenging the final, exclusionary document.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Betsy Arakawa also passed away simultaneously. This means that the estate's disposition, which was likely intended to pass to her and then to charity, is now in a state of legal limbo. The three Hackman children are technically Gene Hackman's only surviving heirs under intestacy laws, which strengthens their position in challenging the will's validity.

Christopher Allen Hackman's Private Life and Professional Endeavors

While the legal drama unfolds, Christopher Allen Hackman’s personal life remains a quiet anchor. He is married to Marian Ann Hackman, and the couple resides in Los Angeles, California. They have successfully shielded their private life from the intense media scrutiny that often follows the children of Hollywood icons.

Professionally, Christopher is known to have worked as a computer programmer and software developer, a career path far removed from the dazzling lights of Hollywood. However, he has also been cited as an aspiring filmmaker, suggesting a latent interest in following his father’s footsteps, albeit behind the camera. This duality—a grounded career in tech and a creative interest in film—highlights a man who has sought to forge his own identity outside the shadow of his famous father.

The current legal fight is not just about money; it's about recognition and a sense of belonging. For Christopher Allen Hackman, the contest of the will is an attempt to reclaim a connection to his father's legacy and ensure that he, Elizabeth, and Leslie are acknowledged as integral parts of the Hackman family, despite the reported final wishes outlined in the controversial estate documents. The coming months will see this contentious battle play out in the courts, defining Christopher Allen Hackman’s public narrative for the foreseeable future.