Inside Gene Hackman’s $80 million estate drama one year after actor’s shocking death

Gene Hackman’s reported $80 million estate is at the center of legal drama — one year after the legendary actor’s heartbreaking death.

Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, NM, home on Feb. 26, 2025. The actor’s date of death was determined to be Feb. 18, while Arakawa died from hantavirus infection days prior on Feb. 11.

Now, Page Six is breaking down where all the legal drama over the “French Connection” star’s multi-million dollar estate stands today — including his estranged children’s involvement.

According to court papers obtained by Page Six, attorney Julia L. Peters filed an application to be the personal representative of Hackman’s estate on March 6, 2025.

The documents explain how Arakawa was the first named personal representative of the Decedent, Hackman — followed by the actor’s attorney, Michael G. Sutin, and then Peters.

“Julia L. Peters has priority to be appointed as personal representative as a result of the deaths of Betsy Arakawa Hackman and Michel G. Sutin,” the court papers read. “Julia L. Peters accepts the nomination to be the Personal Representative.”

Hackman’s Last Will and Testament — which Peters believes was “validly executed” — was dated June 7, 2005, and was included in the case.

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

Additionally, Hackman created two trusts prior to his death: the Gene Hackman Living Trust and the GeBe Revocable Trust.

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

The court documents state that Avalon “is best situated to fairly and accurately carry out Mr. Hackman’s final directions and wishes in accordance with his intent.”

Regarding the purpose of creating two separate trusts, legal expert Gregory Doll told Page Six that “trusts are commonly used to avoid probate and allow assets to be managed privately.”

“The key role in any trust is the trustee — 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,” he added.

“What 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.”

On March 20, 2025, lawyer Gregory W. MacKenzie filed an appearance on behalf of Hackman’s three children: Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie.

However, no further filings were made by Mackenzie on behalf of the kids. Mackenzie did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

Doll clarified of the children’s potential role, “The fact that Gene’s 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’s interests as necessary.

“The 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.”

Doll added, “It 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.”

Months later, on Aug. 1, 2025, Peters filed court papers stating she has been “working diligently on the preparation of the inventory and the valuation of the property of the Decendent.”

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.

The case remains ongoing. Reps for Hackman and a lawyer for Peters did not respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.

Page Six previously reported that Hackman and Arakawa’s estate was left with an outstanding debt in the amount of $98,345.29 for a Citibank credit card.

News of the couple being found dead in their New Mexico home, along with one of their dogs, shook Hollywood at the time.

Authorities determined Arakawa died first on Feb. 11 at age 65 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare rodent-transmitted virus.

Hackman died on Feb. 18 from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer’s as a contributing factor. He was 95.

Their deaths remained unknown for days until a maintenance worker found them.

Arakawa’s body had begun decomposing and showed signs of mummification, per officials, as their house was in a hoarder-like state.

Though Hackman was reportedly estranged from his children, his daughters released a statement to Page Six shortly after news of the actor’s death broke.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy,” Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman, along with his granddaughter, Annie, said at the time.

“He 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.”