{"id":476107,"date":"2026-02-18T16:08:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:08:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/476107\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T16:08:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:08:07","slug":"inside-gene-hackmans-80-million-estate-drama-one-year-after-actors-shocking-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/476107\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Gene Hackman\u2019s $80 million estate drama one year after actor\u2019s shocking death"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gene Hackman\u2019s reported $80 million estate<\/a> is at the center of legal drama \u2014 one year after the legendary actor\u2019s heartbreaking death<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, NM, home<\/a> on Feb. 26, 2025. The actor\u2019s date of death was determined to be Feb. 18, while Arakawa died from hantavirus infection days prior on Feb. 11.<\/p>\n

Now, Page Six is breaking down where all the legal drama over the \u201cFrench Connection\u201d star\u2019s multi-million dollar estate stands today \u2014 including his estranged children\u2019s involvement.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been one year since Gene Hackman died at the age of 95. WireImage<\/p>\n

According to court papers obtained by Page Six, attorney Julia L. Peters filed an application to be the personal representative of Hackman\u2019s estate on March 6, 2025.<\/p>\n

The documents explain how Arakawa was the first named personal representative of the Decedent, Hackman \u2014 followed by the actor\u2019s attorney, Michael G. Sutin, and then Peters.<\/p>\n

\u201cJulia L. Peters has priority to be appointed as personal representative as a result of the deaths of Betsy Arakawa Hackman and Michel G. Sutin,\u201d the court papers read. \u201cJulia L. Peters accepts the nomination to be the Personal Representative.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hackman\u2019s Last Will and Testament \u2014 which Peters believes was \u201cvalidly executed\u201d \u2014 was dated June 7, 2005, and was included in the case.<\/p>\n

Hackman\u2019s reported $80 million estate is at the center of legal drama. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Attorney Julia L. Peters filed an application to be the personal representative of Hackman\u2019s estate on March 6. REUTERS<\/p>\n

While Hackman mentioned his three children from a previous marriage to Faye Maltese \u2014 Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie \u2014 in the docs, he did not nominate any of them to act as a personal representative.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Hackman created two trusts prior to his death: the Gene Hackman Living Trust and the GeBe Revocable Trust.<\/p>\n

Peters filed on March 17, 2025, to appoint Avalon Trust, LLC \u2014 the financial company in which Peters serves as both Chief Counsel and partner \u2014 as successor trustee of GeBe Revocable Trust and Gene Hackman Living Trust.<\/p>\n

The court documents state that Avalon \u201cis best situated to fairly and accurately carry out Mr. Hackman\u2019s final directions and wishes in accordance with his intent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hackman created two trusts titled the Gene Hackman Living Trust and the GeBe Revocable Trust. GC Images<\/p>\n

Peters filed on March 17, 2025, to appoint Avalon Trust, LLC \u2014 the financial company she is Chief Counsel and partner of \u2014 as successor trustee of GeBe Revocable Trust and Gene Hackman Living Trust. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Regarding the purpose of creating two separate trusts, legal expert Gregory Doll told Page Six that \u201ctrusts are commonly used to avoid probate and allow assets to be managed privately.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key role in any trust is the trustee \u2014 the person or company with legal authority to manage the assets. The issue here appears to center on who is authorized to serve as trustee now,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat Avalon is saying to the court here is that Avalon is in the best position to manage the Trust assets, and if Gene were alive, he would probably agree. Avalon is asking to be temporarily appointed as Trustee of both trusts until a further hearing can be held and all relevant evidence considered.\u201d<\/p>\n

On March 20, 2025, lawyer Gregory W. MacKenzie filed an appearance on behalf of Hackman\u2019s three children: Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie.<\/p>\n

However, no further filings were made by Mackenzie on behalf of the kids. Mackenzie did not respond to Page Six\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n

In the final filing in the case on Oct. 24, Peters filed that she has prepared an inventory of the property owned by Hackman at the time of his death. SplashNews.com<\/p>\n

The case remains ongoing today. SplashNews.com<\/p>\n

Doll clarified of the children\u2019s potential role, \u201cThe fact that Gene\u2019s 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\u2019s interests as necessary. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doll added, \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Months later, on Aug. 1, 2025, Peters filed court papers stating she has been \u201cworking diligently on the preparation of the inventory and the valuation of the property of the Decendent.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the final filing in the case, dated Oct. 24, 2025, Peters stated that she has prepared an inventory of the property owned by Hackman at the time of his death.<\/p>\n

The case remains ongoing. Reps for Hackman and a lawyer for Peters did not respond to Page Six\u2019s requests for comment.<\/p>\n

Photos show the state of the house when the actor and his wife were found dead. Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office<\/p>\n

They lived in a hoarder-like environment. Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office<\/p>\n

Page Six previously reported that Hackman and Arakawa\u2019s estate was left with an outstanding debt<\/a> in the amount of $98,345.29 for a Citibank credit card.<\/p>\n

News of the couple being found dead in their New Mexico home, along with one of their dogs, shook Hollywood at the time.<\/p>\n

Authorities determined Arakawa died first on Feb. 11 at age 65 from\u00a0hantavirus pulmonary syndrome<\/a>\u00a0(HPS), a rare rodent-transmitted virus.<\/p>\n

Hackman died on Feb. 18\u00a0from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease<\/a> with Alzheimer\u2019s <\/a>as a contributing factor. He was 95.<\/p>\n

Their deaths\u00a0remained unknown<\/a>\u00a0for days until\u00a0a maintenance worker found them<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Arakawa\u2019s body\u00a0had begun decomposing<\/a>\u00a0and showed signs of mummification, per officials, as their house was in a hoarder-like state.<\/p>\n

Hackman\u2019s children are not mentioned as personal representatives of the will. Getty Images<\/p>\n

He was reportedly estranged from his three children \u2014 Christopher, Leslie and Elizabeth\u2013 at the time of his death. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Though Hackman was reportedly estranged from his children, his daughters released a statement to Page Six<\/a> shortly after news of the actor\u2019s death broke.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy,\u201d Hackman\u2019s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman, along with his granddaughter, Annie, said at the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Gene Hackman\u2019s reported $80 million estate is at the center of legal drama \u2014 one year after the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":476108,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[236,7569,152441,91,88,186,37742],"class_list":{"0":"post-476107","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-celebrities","8":"tag-celebrities","9":"tag-celebrity-deaths","10":"tag-celebrity-estates","11":"tag-celebrity-news","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-exclusive","14":"tag-gene-hackman"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476107","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=476107"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476107\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/476108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=476107"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=476107"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=476107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}