Gene Hackman died with a five-figure credit card bill, now $80M estate faces lawsuits and family dispute

Indian Express

12-07-2025

Gene Hackman's death earlier this year under strange and still-unexplained circumstances is still being looked into, with no clear update on how exactly he was found. Now, months later, his $80 million estate, which has already stirred tension in the family after the kids were left out of the will, is facing trouble. According to court records, the Hollywood legend died with close to $100,000 in unpaid credit card debt. The two-time Academy Award winner had left everything to his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who was also found dead inside the same house, next to Hackman.
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According to the court documents obtained by US Weekly, the Hollywood legend owed Citibank $98,345.29. Meanwhile, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who also died around the same time, had a separate credit card debt of $4,329.75 with Bank of America. Since both of them passed away suddenly and were reportedly battling multiple medical conditions, neither of them had the chance to clear these dues, which is likely why the banks have now filed claims against their estate to recover the money.
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Hackman, who was 95 when he died, had been dealing with Alzheimer's and heart problems. His wife, Betsy, believed to have passed days earlier, is thought to have died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease spread by rodents. The couple, along with one of their dogs, were found dead inside their New Mexico home in early January after neighbours noticed their sudden disappearance and called 911. By the time authorities arrived, Betsy's body had already started decomposing.
As for the will, Hackman had named Arakawa the successor trustee back in 2005, and that document hasn't been touched since. But now that she's gone too, the question is: who inherits the estate? The actor had three adult kids, Christopher Allen Hackman, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, and Leslie Anne Hackman, but none of them were mentioned in the will. After the news broke, they released a statement saying they were devastated, though it's been widely known that they were estranged from their father for years. Despite the debt, the amount is minor compared to Hackman's $80 million estate, and it's likely the claims will be settled soon.