Gene Hackman's $80M Estate Hit With Hefty Credit Card Debt Five Months After His Deaths As Will Omits Kids

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's estates have reportedly been hit with outstanding debts months after their death.

The elderly couple was found dead in their New Mexico home in February 2025, leaving behind an $80 million estate.

Betsy Arakawa is said to have died from hantavirus, with Gene Hackman passing away soon after from heart disease and Alzheimer's.

It has been revealed that Hackman and his wife, Arakawa, had unresolved financial issues before their passing, which have raised questions about the future of the actor's $80 million estate.

According to documents obtained by Us Weekly, Hackman had an outstanding credit card balance of $98,345.29 owed to Citibank, while Arakawa reportedly owed $4,329.75 to Bank of America.

Their sudden deaths may have prevented them from settling these debts, prompting the banks to file claims to recover the funds.

What remains unclear is who will ultimately inherit Hackman's estate. As revealed by The Daily Mail, the actor's will, last updated in June 2005, named Arakawa as his successor trustee. With her passing before him, it remains uncertain who will now inherit his assets.

Notably, the will does not mention Hackman's three adult children: Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne Hackman.

The siblings, who were rumored to be estranged from their father in recent years, have publicly expressed being "devastated" by his death. Still, their exclusion from the will leaves the matter of inheritance unresolved.

Hackman and Arakawa were found deceased in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on February 26, 2025.

Authorities later determined that Arakawa had died about a week earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare rodent-borne illness.

Hackman, best known for his iconic roles in "The French Connection" and "Behind Enemy Lines is believed to have died on February 18.

His cause of death was ruled as hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease listed as a contributing factor.

Their deaths went unnoticed for several days until a maintenance worker entered the home and found both bodies, along with one of their dogs.

By that time, officials reported that Arakawa's body had already begun to decompose, showing early signs of mummification.

A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office confirmed no foul play was suspected, although the exact circumstances around the timeline of their deaths remain under investigation.

"On February 26, 2025, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and a dog were found deceased," the statement read. "Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time, however, [the] exact cause of death has not been determined."

In the wake of their passing, Hackman's daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, along with his granddaughter Annie, released a heartfelt statement mourning the legendary actor.

"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," they shared. "We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss."

Tributes from the entertainment industry also poured in, celebrating Hackman's profound impact on cinema.

Actress Marcia Gay Harden, who starred alongside Hackman in "Welcome to Mooseport," reflected on his talent. She admitted she was mesmerized by his work, "even during rehearsals."

Harden said, "He was the real deal. "Every line was as if he was saying it for the first time."

Actor Dustin Hoffman, a longtime friend of Hackman, also paid tribute, recalling their early days in acting school, sitting around playing conga drums like their hero, Marlon Brando.

"And Gene was like Brando, in that he brought something unprecedented to our craft, something people didn't immediately understand as genius: He was expelled from our school after three months for 'not having talent,'" Hoffman said, per NBC News. "It was the first time they ever did that. He was that good. Powerful, subtle, brilliant. A giant among actors. I miss him already."

Widely considered a cornerstone of the "New Hollywood" movement of the 1970s, Hackman carved out a legendary career that spanned more than six decades.

He earned critical acclaim, industry respect, and two Academy Awards during his lifetime. Hackman won his first Oscar for Best Actor for his iconic portrayal of tough New York City detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in William Friedkin's 1971 classic "The French Connection."

He earned his second Academy Award, this time for Best Supporting Actor, for his role as the brutal sheriff in Clint Eastwood's 1992 Western "Unforgiven."

In addition to his two wins, Hackman received three other Oscar nominations for his standout performances in "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967), "I Never Sang for My Father" (1970), and "Mississippi Burning" (1988).