How Will Hackman's 116 Billion Won Estate Be Inherited When Only His Wife's Name Is in the Will... What About the Three Children?

Arakawa Passed Away Before Hackman
Expert: "Children Likely to Inherit According to Inheritance Law"

Hollywood actor Gene Hackman, whose assets amount to $80 million (approximately 116 billion KRW), was found dead last month along with his wife, drawing attention to the inheritance of his estate.

Hackman had written a will leaving all his assets to his wife during his lifetime, but since his wife passed away before him, it is expected that Hackman's three children will inherit the estate.

American actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in 2003. Photo by AP and Yonhap News Agency

On the 15th (local time), BBC reported, "The deceased Hackman designated his wife Betsy Arakawa (65), with whom he lived for 30 years, as the sole beneficiary in his will."

Although the will has been made public, uncertainty remains about the fate of his $80 million (approximately 116 billion KRW) estate. It was confirmed that Arakawa died about a week before her husband Hackman. Earlier, Arakawa was found dead alongside Hackman at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, last month on the 26th. According to investigators, Arakawa died on February 11 after being infected with a rare virus, and Hackman died a few days later, around the 17th.

Legal experts believe that Hackman's children may inherit the estate even though they are not mentioned in the will. Hackman had three children?Christopher (65), Elizabeth (62), and Leslie (58)?from his previous marriage, who is already deceased.

California attorney Trey Lovell told BBC, "Unless there is another beneficiary, the estate can be inherited by the children according to inheritance law," adding, "Since Arakawa died before Hackman, it must be proven that the will is invalid." He also said, "According to intestate succession law, the children can be the next legal heirs."

Meanwhile, Hackman's cause of death was revealed to be hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease playing a major role.

Hackman was active in Hollywood for over 40 years from the 1960s to the early 2000s, appearing in more than 80 films across various genres including action, thriller, historical, and comedy. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Detective Doyle in 'The French Connection' (1971), and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Sheriff Daggett in 'Unforgiven' (1992).