Gene Hackman's Children, Not Named In Will, Could Still Inherit $80M Fortune

Hollywood actor Gene Hackman, who was found dead at his home last month along with his wife and their dog, left his estranged children out of his will. But the children might still inherit his $80 million fortune through a living trust he set up a few years ago.

Documents showed Mr Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, as the only beneficiary of his estate, personal representative, and successor trustee of the Gene Hackman Living Trust, The New York Post reported.

Recent court documents said that in 1995, Mr Hackman appointed Arakawa Hackman as the Successor Trustee of the Gene Hackman Living Trust, amending the structure of their so-called GeBe Revocable Trust. His will, dated June 7, 2005, stated: "I give my entire estate to Betsy Arakawa Hackman."

Now, with the death of all the beneficiaries named in his trust, the inheritance may go to his estranged children by default.

Mr Hackman had three children -- Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58 -- from his previous marriage. They can challenge the trust if they do not automatically inherit his fortune.

What Works In Their Favour

They stand to benefit from a legal precedent established by the 2009 Chapman v. Varela case before the New Mexico Supreme Court. According to the ruling, a trust may be deemed void in the event of suspicious circumstances such as someone unjustly influencing Mr Hackman during the establishment or amendment of the trust.

If the person benefiting from the claim fails to prove that everything was done fairly, then it may go against him/her, and the person making the claim -- children in this case -- can inherit his fortune.

How Gene Hackman And Betsy Arakawa died

The bodies of Mr Hackman and Ms Arakawa were found in their Santa Fe home in New Mexico after emergency services were called to their property.

According to reports, Mr Hackman spent his final days in isolation after his wife, Ms Arakawa, reportedly died a week before the actor's death. Mr Hackman was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's and was dependent on his wife. She died from a rare viral infection, Hantavirus, which is caused by rodents.