The $80 Million Twist: Did Gene Hackman Have Children And Who Inherited His Fortune?

The legendary actor Gene Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner known for his intense, commanding performances in films like The French Connection and Unforgiven, passed away in February 2025 at the age of 95, leaving behind a profound legacy in Hollywood and a highly complicated family situation. The simple question, "Did Gene Hackman have children?" has a clear answer—yes, he had three—but the recent events surrounding his substantial $80 million estate have brought his private family life into the public spotlight in a dramatic and unexpected way. As of this current date in December 2025, the fate of his fortune is still a major point of legal contention, making this a story of both a celebrated career and a surprising family dispute.

The core of the controversy stems from the fact that Hackman’s three adult children from his first marriage were reportedly excluded from his will, which was drawn up decades ago. The subsequent passing of his second wife, Betsy Arakawa, around the same time as Hackman has introduced a complex legal twist that could still determine whether his children—Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie—will inherit a share of the vast $80 million fortune. The legal battle is a fresh development that has captivated fans and the legal community alike, shining a new light on the intensely private life of the late star.

Gene Hackman: A Brief Biography and Family Profile

Eugene Allen Hackman was born on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California. His career spanned six decades, establishing him as one of the most respected and versatile actors of his generation. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in The French Connection (1971) and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the Western Unforgiven (1992). Hackman officially retired from acting in 2004, focusing instead on a career as a novelist.

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• Full Name: Eugene Allen Hackman
• Born: January 30, 1930, San Bernardino, California, U.S.
• Passed Away: c. February 2025 (Age 95)
• Cause of Death: Heart disease (with advanced Alzheimer's)
• Occupations: Actor, Novelist (Retired from acting in 2004)
• Wives:
  • Faye Maltese (m. 1956; div. 1986)
  • Betsy Arakawa (m. 1991; d. February 2025)
• Children: Three (from first marriage to Faye Maltese)
• Notable Films: The French Connection, Unforgiven, Mississippi Burning, The Conversation, Superman

The Definitive Answer: Gene Hackman’s Three Children

Yes, Gene Hackman had three children, all from his first marriage to Faye Maltese. Hackman and Maltese were married for three decades, from 1956 until their divorce in 1986. During this time, they welcomed one son and two daughters. Unlike their famous father, all three children have maintained a relatively low profile, choosing to live their lives away from the intense scrutiny of Hollywood.

1. Christopher Allen Hackman

Christopher Allen Hackman is Gene Hackman’s only son and the eldest of his children. He was born in the early 1960s, making him approximately 63 to 65 years old as of late 2025. While he has largely stayed out of the public eye, Christopher is the child who has taken the most prominent action regarding his father’s estate. Reports indicate he has hired a high-profile trust and estate attorney, Andrew M. Katzenstein, signaling an intent to challenge the terms of his father’s will.

2. Elizabeth Jean Hackman

Elizabeth Jean Hackman is the middle child and Gene Hackman’s elder daughter. She was born around the mid-1960s, placing her age in the range of 61 to 62 years old. Like her siblings, Elizabeth has sought privacy, with very little public information available about her professional life or personal endeavors. However, her name, along with her siblings', has been thrust into the news cycle due to the unfolding estate dispute, which has created a complex situation for the entire Hackman family.

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3. Leslie Anne Hackman

Leslie Anne Hackman is the youngest of the three children. Born in the late 1960s, she is approximately 57 to 58 years old. Leslie, too, has maintained a private life, a common choice for the children of intensely famous personalities. The collective exclusion of Leslie, Elizabeth, and Christopher from the primary inheritance has raised questions about the nature of their relationship with their father in the later years of his life, a subject that remains intensely private.

The Shocking $80 Million Estate Controversy

The most compelling and current aspect of Gene Hackman's legacy is the legal battle over his estimated $80 million estate. The initial reports following his death in February 2025, which occurred shortly after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, revealed a stunning detail: Hackman’s will, reportedly drafted in 1995, named Betsy Arakawa as the sole beneficiary, effectively disinheriting his three children.

The Complex Legal Twist

Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their New Mexico home in late February 2025. Officials later determined that Hackman died of heart disease, complicated by advanced Alzheimer’s disease, while Arakawa’s cause of death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The timing of their deaths—reportedly Arakawa preceding Hackman by a few days—has created a significant legal loophole.

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Because the 1995 will named Arakawa as the sole successor, the entire estate would typically pass to her. However, since she also passed away, the estate’s fate is now subject to a complex legal interpretation, particularly if the will did not explicitly name a contingent beneficiary for the scenario where the primary beneficiary (Arakawa) did not survive the testator (Hackman).

The Children’s Challenge

The development that has brought this private matter into the public sphere is the reported action taken by Hackman’s son, Christopher Allen Hackman. By hiring a top trust and estate attorney, Christopher is poised to challenge the will. The legal argument may hinge on several factors, including:

• Will Contest Laws: Challenging the validity of the 1995 will itself, perhaps on the grounds of undue influence or Hackman's mental state (given his advanced Alzheimer's) when any subsequent changes might have been considered.
• Lapsed Bequest: Arguing that the bequest to Arakawa "lapsed" because she did not survive Hackman, which could mean the estate would fall to intestacy laws, allowing his children to inherit as next-of-kin.

The situation is a classic example of how even a seemingly straightforward will can become a complex legal battleground. The children are now fighting for their share of their father’s legacy, a battle that is likely to keep the late actor’s name in the headlines for months to come. The outcome will not only determine the final resting place of the $80 million fortune but will also close the final, dramatic chapter on the life of one of Hollywood’s most private and celebrated stars.