Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's deaths puzzled experts. But the real drama is just beginning.

It's the tragedy that shocked Hollywood and the world: Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found dead in their New Mexico home, alongside their beloved dog on February 26.

But it hasn't just been their deaths that made headlines, it was the unsettling mystery surrounding them. Pills were scattered across a countertop. Parts of Arakawa's body were reportedly "mummified". And yet, nothing appeared out of place.

Earlier this month, authorities confirmed Arakawa died from hantavirus, a flu-like virus linked to rodent droppings, and Hackman died a week later from heart disease. New details have since emerged that are shifting the timeline of events.

Now, many are asking: what will happen to Hackman's reputed $80 million USD ($120 million AUD) fortune?

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Who will inherit Gene Hackman's estate?

It's a question many people are wondering, but unfortunately there's no straight answer at this stage. Let us walk you through it.

Hackman's will has been released, and it turns out his three children — Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Ann Hackman — were not named as beneficiaries of his estate. According to the BBC, Hackman left his entire fortune to his wife, Arakawa.

But since she died a week before her husband, that's been thrown for a loop.

Arakawa's own will left her assets to Hackman, with a provision that if they died within 90 days of each other, her estate would go to a trust and later be donated to charity after covering medical expenses, per the BBC.

Questions surround who will inherit Gene's estate following his and wife Betsy's deaths. Image: Getty.

So, what does this actually mean for the money?

Well, Hackman had appointed attorney Michael G. Sutin as the first representative for his estate in the event of Arakawa's death. However, Michael died in 2019, with attorney Julia L. Peters then appointed as the second successor for personal representation of his estate, Entertainment Weekly reports.

A copy of Arakawa's will obtained by EW noted she had no children or lineal descendants, and had appointed Sutin and Peters as successors in the case of Hackman's death.

Earlier this month, Julia named Hackman's three adult children in court as his heirs. And with Awakara having died too, they could attempt to lay claim to his estate.

California attorney Tre Lovell told the BBC the estate could default to them under succession laws. They would just need to prove the will was invalid because Arakawa died before her husband.

"The estate will actually be probated in accordance with intestate succession laws and the children would be lawfully next in line to inherit," he said.

Hackman's children are yet to comment publicly on the matter. However, Christopher has reportedly already hired a prominent California trust and estate attorney, which could indicate he plans to challenge the will.

For now, we'll just have to wait and see.

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How did Gene Hackman die?

Doctor Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Examiner for New Mexico, said Hackman died of heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributing factor to his death.

"Mr Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," she said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think, ultimately, that is what resulted in his death."

The tragic detail in Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's autopsies.

Hackman likely died on or around February 18.

Arakawa was found in the home's bathroom, with an open prescription bottle and scattered pills nearby. This means Hackman's wife was lying dead in the couple's bathroom for about seven days before the actor passed away.

Authorities initially believed Arakawa died on February 11. However, new details have shifted this timeline.

According to ABC News, she made a phone call on the morning of February 12. Officials say she contacted Cloudberry, a medical concierge service that provides credentialed doctors to patients seeking help.

"That would indicate to me that she was seeking medical advice or medical help and may have not been feeling well," Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza told Good Morning America on Monday.

A Cloudberry spokesperson confirmed to GMA that Arakawa contacted them to inquire about "esoteric treatment" that morning. They said there were no signs of breathing issues or distress, and the office called her back twice, but she never responded.

Arakawa was last seen picking up a prescription on February 11, authorities said.

Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa pose for a portrait in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. Image: Getty.

How did Betsy Arakawa die?

The autopsy found that Arakawa had hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease that is spread by exposure to infected rodent droppings, urine or saliva, and is typically reported in the spring and summer.

Dr Jarrell emphasised the seriousness of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, explaining that people who contract the disease often feel sick for three to six days, before the "pulmonary phase, where they have fluid in their lungs and around their lungs". When this happens, the disease can become terminal "very quickly".

"At that point, a person can die very quickly, within 24 to 48 hours, roughly speaking, without medical treatment."

Dr Jarrell suggested that, given Hackman's advanced Alzheimer's, "it's quite possible that he was not aware" his wife had died during his final week.

"There was no food in his stomach, which means he had not eaten recently, but he had no evidence of dehydration," she said.

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa during The 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Image: Getty.

What happened to Gene Hackman?

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's bodies were found.

On Wednesday, February 26, police received a call from Hackman's home. It was a maintenance worker, who'd arrived to complete routine work at the property. Instead, he made a harrowing discovery.

Hackman and Arakawa were inside their home. Not moving.

In a 911 call reportedly made by the man and obtained by TMZ, he can be heard sobbing as he directs authorities to the couple's home in a gated community just outside New Mexico's capital city.

"I have no idea," he told authorities when asked if the couple are awake or breathing.

"I'm not inside the house… but I see them... she's laying down."

Asked if either of them was moving, he said: "No, dude, they're not moving. Just send somebody out here really quick."

Deputies from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office arrived at the Hackman residence in Hyde Park at approximately 1:45pm.

They arrived to find Hackman's body in a side room near the kitchen of the house, while Arakawa was found in a bathroom with a space heater near her head and an open bottle of prescription pills on a countertop nearby, CNN reported.

The couple's German Shepherd dog was found dead in a bathroom closet. Two other healthy dogs were found running around the property.

Actor Gene Hackman poses for a portrait circa 1996. Image: Getty.

A police detective said they believed the couple had been dead for some time because of Arakawa's "decomposition" and "mummification" in the hands and feet.

"The male decedent also showed obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent," said the search warrant, according to the BBC.

Hackman was discovered wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a blue long-sleeve T-shirt and brown slippers. Sunglasses and a walking cane were next to his body.

The detective suspected he had fallen suddenly.

The circumstances of their deaths were "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation", according to the search warrant.

However, the detective noted that nothing appeared out of place inside the home. There was no sign of forced entry, no indication of a break-in, and nothing appeared to be missing. The front door was open and unsecured when officers arrived.

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What has Gene Hackman's family said?

In a statement, Hackman's children paid tribute to their late father.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy," daughters Elizabeth Hackman, Leslie Hackman and granddaughter Annie Hackman shared in a statement to People.

"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."

Gene Hackman's legendary Hollywood career.

Before stepping away from the spotlight, Hackman was one of Hollywood's most respected and versatile actors.

Across a career spanning over five decades, he starred in more than 80 films, winning two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, and a BAFTA.

Hackman's breakthrough came in 1971 with The French Connection, where he played the gritty, no-nonsense detective Popeye Doyle — a role that won him his first Oscar. He later took home his second Academy Award for his chilling performance as Little Bill Daggett in Unforgiven (1992).

From thrillers like Mississippi Burning to comedies like The Birdcage and The Royal Tenenbaums, Hackman's range was unmatched. But despite his immense success, he walked away from Hollywood in the early 2000s, choosing a quieter life over the limelight.

Now, in the wake of his passing, the film industry is reflecting on just how much of a giant he truly was.

Actor Gene Hackman and daughter Elizabeth Hackman in 1978. Image: Getty.

What do we know about Gene Hackman's final years?

For the past two decades, Hackman had been living life on his own terms. After officially retiring from acting in 2004, the Unforgiven star largely disappeared from the public eye, choosing to spend his time painting, writing novels, and enjoying a quiet existence with Arakawa in their Santa Fe home.

Despite stepping away from Hollywood, Hackman remained a figure of fascination. Every few years, paparazzi photos would emerge of the actor running errands or cycling, proving that even in his 90s, he was still active.

In 2023, he made headlines when he was spotted grabbing a burger at a local drive-thru — his first public sighting in years. Fans loved that he was still living life on his own terms, just as he always had.

His last public sighting was in March 2024, when he was seen out walking with a cane and holding his wife's hand for support.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa during 61st Annual Academy Awards. Image: Getty.

Who was Betsy Arakawa?

Arakawa was more than just Gene Hackman's wife — she was his partner in life for over three decades.

A former classical pianist turned businesswoman, Arakawa met Hackman in the 1980s while working at a fitness centre in Los Angeles. The pair married in 1991, and despite Hackman's Hollywood status, they lived a quiet, private life far from the spotlight.

While Hackman was known for his legendary film career, Betsy played a key role behind the scenes, supporting him through his transition out of acting and into a slower, more peaceful life in New Mexico.

Friends and family described their relationship as deeply devoted, with the couple preferring the quiet charm of Santa Fe over the glitz of Hollywood.

This article was originally published on February 28, 2025 and has since been updated.

Feature Image: Getty.