Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman | Source: Getty Images
The timing of Gene Hackman’s passing may have significant implications for the distribution of his fortune worth millions of dollars.
Under New Mexico law, if Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, had died within 120 hours of each other, their deaths would have been classified as simultaneous. This legal distinction could have altered the way their assets were divided.
Betsy Arakawa and actor Gene Hackman attend the Mission Hills Celebrity Sports Invitational, Rancho Mirage, California, on November 29, 1991 | Source: Getty Images
However, according to investigators, Hackman lived for seven days after Arakawa’s death, as confirmed by data from his pacemaker.
Because of this, the simultaneous death provisions do not apply, meaning his estate may be allocated among his designated beneficiaries rather than being transferred to Betsy Arakawa’s estate.
Legal expert Kevin Holmes explained that many states, including New Mexico, set a five-day threshold for a person to be legally recognized as having survived someone under standard will provisions.
Because Gene Hackman outlived his wife by a full week, the estate distribution will follow the terms outlined in his will rather than default inheritance laws.
With a net worth estimated at $80 million, Hackman’s estate will likely be divided according to his final wishes. The specifics of his will, including the designated beneficiaries, remain undisclosed.
However, experts suggest that the legal distinction in the timing of his passing could have a lasting impact on how his wealth is distributed.
