Gene Hackman, wife Betsy, Leslie, and Elizabeth at the premiere of his new movie “The Chamber”.
Gene Hackman left behind an $US80million ($A128 million) when he died last month — including the Santa Fe compound, where he and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead.
Now, the two time Oscar-winner and Arakawa’s wills have been revealed, the New York Post reports.
According to TMZ, the iconic star’s multimillion-dollar estate is not going to his children.
In 1995, the “Birdcage” actor reportedly made Arakawa the sole beneficiary of his estate, leaving out his three children he shared with his ex-wife, Faye Maltesen: son Christopher and daughters Leslie and Elizabeth.
Hackman’s wife was supposed to get his fortune in the event of his death, which was likely to happen before her. He was 95 and she was 65.
However, they both tragically passed away within days of each other.
If Arakawa died first, most of her assets were reportedly supposed to go to her husband.
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Gene Hackman and daughters Elizabeth Hackman and Leslie Hackman in 1978. Picture: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Hackman and his children at a family holiday in Sun Valley. Picture: Tony Korody/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images
The documents allegedly show a provision stating that if they simultaneously died within 90 days of each other, all of Arakawa’s assets would go to charity. The couple, who married in 1991, did not have a prenup.
According to TMZ, Hackman’s son has already hired a prominent California trust and estate lawyer, which is a high indicator that he’s likely to challenge the will.
The outlet also points out that collecting the “The French Connection” actor’s fortune isn’t completely off the table for his children as they are the most direct living heirs.
Hackman had previously been estranged from his three children, confessing that his commitment to his Hollywood career had strained their relationship.
He was understood to have reconciled with his children in recent years. It is unclear whether this affected his decision to leave them any part of his estate.
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Hackman married Betsy Arakawa in 1991. Picture: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Hackman and Arakawa resided on a large 12-acre compound in Santa Fe, New Mexico, until their deaths.
According to Realtor, “The Royal Tenenbaums” star purchased the property in the 1980s for an undisclosed amount and spent years working to turn the home into an idyllic escape from the pressures of Hollywood.
The residence boasts at least four bedrooms and 360-degree mountain views that stretch as far as Colorado.
When Hackman purchased the home in the 1980s, he quickly set about renovating it, explaining to Architectural Digest in a 1990 interview that he preferred to “interpret what’s already there” rather than tearing it down to make way for a new dwelling.
“I think it’s like being an actor. I interpret what’s already there. I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” he told the outlet.
“I guess I like the process, and when it’s over, it’s over.”
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Gene Hackman’s longtime home in New Mexico. Picture: Google Earth
At the time, he described Santa Fe as having “a kind of magic in it,” explaining that he fell in love with the region after filming several movie projects there — and set about establishing his 10th home in the region.
Hackman became so enamoured with the home that he built a second property on the land in 2000, turning it into the perfect hideaway from Hollywood, where he ultimately spent much of his final years.
He confessed that his New Mexico property was “totally different” from his other residences because it wasn’t as “formal.”
In recent years, it has been estimated that the property is worth around $US3.8 million ($A6.1 million).
Parts of this story first appeared in the New York Post and Realtor and were republished with permission.
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