Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa left their estates to each other, as revealed in their wills. The couple, who passed away in February 2025, had structured their estates to ensure a smooth transition of assets. With Hackman naming Arakawa as the personal representative of his estate, and Arakawa’s will designating her assets to be transferred to Hackman’s trust, their financial affairs were carefully planned. Now, with both deceased, the Gene Hackman estate is being managed under legal supervision.
Documents filed in a Santa Fe, New Mexico court confirm that Gene Hackman’s will designates his entire estate to his wife, Betsy Arakawa Hackman, as the successor trustee of the Gene Hackman Living Trust. The will, dated June 7, 2005, ensures that all assets pass into the trust for further management.
However, following the deaths of both Hackman and Arakawa, estate management has shifted to a designated representative. Julia L. Peters, an employee of a Santa Fe-based trust company, has been officially appointed as the personal representative of both estates.
The Gene Hackman estate includes multiple financial assets and properties that are now governed by the Gene Hackman Living Trust. According to legal experts, the exact distribution of these assets remains private since trust documents are typically not subject to public probate court proceedings.
Additionally, Hackman had a separate trust called the GeBe Revocable Trust, established in September 1994. This trust also passes through his will and ultimately feeds into the Gene Hackman Living Trust, consolidating his estate into a single financial entity for beneficiaries.
Betsy Arakawa’s will, created in September 2005, mirrors the structure of Hackman’s estate planning. Her will ensured that if she passed away before her husband, the remaining assets would be managed under his trust. However, since Hackman outlived her by a week, her estate also transfers into the Gene Hackman estate.
Arakawa had also outlined a contingency plan in case her husband predeceased her. In that scenario, she intended for her remaining assets to be placed in a charitable trust, supporting causes that were important to both of them.
While the full trust documents remain undisclosed, court records indicate that Gene Hackman’s estate includes provisions for his three children from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese:
Christopher Hackman
Elizabeth Hackman
Leslie Allen Hackman
A petition filed on March 13 states that, after designated bequests, the remainder of the estate will be distributed according to Hackman’s wishes as outlined in the trust.
With both Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa deceased, the administration of the Gene Hackman estate falls to Julia L. Peters, who was appointed by the Santa Fe district court. Court filings indicate that Peters has already begun managing trust assets and notifying beneficiaries.
Peters’ petition to the court on March 6 sought official confirmation to act as the personal representative of Hackman’s estate. The court approved her application the same day, granting her authority to handle the legal and financial matters.
According to legal experts, the estate is expected to be privately administered by the trust’s successor trustee. Unlike traditional probate cases, where assets are distributed through a court-supervised process, trusts allow for a more confidential transfer of wealth.
Legal analyst Michael P. McCarthy, who is not involved in the case, explained:
“Whoever acts as the trustee must follow the exact terms outlined in the trust. They cannot influence the distribution of assets beyond what is legally set in the documents.”
Since the Gene Hackman estate includes properties and investments, a formal inventory of assets will likely be conducted. Beneficiaries will be notified accordingly, and distributions will proceed as per the trust’s instructions.
The passing of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa shocked Hollywood and their fans worldwide. Hackman, aged 95, died of natural causes related to heart disease and Alzheimer’s complications. Arakawa, aged 65, succumbed to Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease contracted through contact with rodent droppings.
Arakawa died on February 11, and Hackman passed away a week later. Their Santa Fe, New Mexico home became the site of a tragic double loss within a short span.
