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The Three Children Of Gene Hackman: Names, Ages, And The Shocking $80 Million Will Controversy

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The question of "how many children did Gene Hackman have" is now part of a larger, more complex narrative following the passing of the legendary actor. As of late December 2025, the world is still reflecting on the monumental career of the two-time Oscar winner, who died earlier this year at the age of 95. The answer is simple—three children—but the story of their relationship with their famously private father and the subsequent legal drama over his massive estate is anything but simple.

The three adult children of Gene Hackman are now at the center of a high-stakes discussion surrounding their father’s reported $80 million net worth. The controversy stems from reports that Hackman’s last will and testament, updated decades ago, may have excluded them entirely, leaving his entire fortune to his second wife, Betsy Arakawa.

Gene Hackman: A Life of Acclaim and Seclusion (Biography)

Eugene Allen "Gene" Hackman was an American actor and novelist whose career spanned over five decades, earning him two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, and a reputation as one of Hollywood's greatest character actors. He retired from acting in the early 2000s, choosing a quiet life away from the spotlight in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he focused on writing novels.

  • Full Name: Eugene Allen Hackman
  • Born: January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California
  • Died: c. February 18, 2025, in Santa Fe, New Mexico (Age 95)
  • Parents: Eugene Ezra Hackman and Anna Lyda Elizabeth Gray
  • Military Service: United States Marine Corps (1947–1951)
  • Wives:
    • Faye Maltese (Married 1956, Divorced 1986, Deceased 2017)
    • Betsy Arakawa (Married 1991)
  • Children: Three (Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean, Leslie Anne)
  • Notable Films: The French Connection, Unforgiven, Mississippi Burning, Superman, The Conversation, Royal Tenenbaums.
  • Net Worth at Time of Death: Estimated $80 million.

The Three Adult Children from His First Marriage

All three of Gene Hackman's children were born during his first, 30-year marriage to Faye Maltese, a New York bank secretary whom he met while serving in the Marines. The couple married in 1956, a time when Hackman was still struggling to launch his acting career. The marriage ended in divorce in 1986, but it produced his entire immediate family.

The children, now all in their late 50s and 60s, have largely maintained a private existence, mirroring their father's post-retirement seclusion. They are:

Christopher Allen Hackman (Age 65)

Christopher Allen Hackman is Gene Hackman's only son and oldest child. Born around 1960, Christopher has kept the lowest profile of the three siblings. While details about his career are scarce, he is known to live a life away from the Hollywood spotlight that defined his father's career. His age, 65, places him firmly in the generation that watched their father become a cinematic legend.

Elizabeth Jean Hackman (Age 62)

Born around 1963, Elizabeth Jean Hackman is the middle child and one of the two daughters. Elizabeth has also chosen a life of privacy. Like her brother Christopher, she has successfully avoided the intense scrutiny that often follows the children of major celebrities. Her current age is 62.

Leslie Anne Hackman (Age 58)

Leslie Anne Hackman, born around 1967, is the youngest of the three Hackman children. At 58 years old, she, too, has embraced a non-public life. The three siblings represent the family Hackman built before his career truly exploded with films like The French Connection (1971) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972), which might explain their distance from the Hollywood scene.

The Shocking $80 Million Inheritance and the Will Drama

The most recent and compelling news surrounding Gene Hackman's children is the reported dispute over his considerable estate. Hackman's estimated net worth of $80 million was accumulated over decades as a top-tier actor, with substantial earnings from iconic roles in films like Unforgiven and Superman.

The Excluded Beneficiaries?

Reports from multiple sources indicate a potential family feud, as Hackman’s will, which may have been drafted or last updated decades ago, reportedly names his second wife, Betsy Arakawa, as the sole beneficiary. Hackman and Arakawa, a classical pianist he married in 1991, did not have any children together. This means that Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie may have been left out of the will entirely.

The exclusion of adult children from a will is not uncommon in celebrity estates, but the size of Hackman’s fortune and his long marriage to their mother, Faye Maltese, makes the situation particularly newsworthy and heartbreaking for the children.

Betsy Arakawa: The Sole Heir

Betsy Arakawa, who was with Hackman for over 30 years until his death, is reportedly the designated heir. This arrangement suggests a conscious decision by the actor to ensure his wife's financial security, potentially overlooking the inheritance for his adult children from his previous marriage. The will's details, reportedly last updated in the mid-1990s or mid-2000s, are now the subject of intense media speculation and potential legal challenge.

Hackman’s Private Post-Retirement Life

After retiring from acting in 2004, Gene Hackman became notoriously private. He focused his time on writing historical fiction and crime novels, often collaborating with Daniel Lenihan. This seclusion meant that public information about his relationship with his children was minimal, adding to the mystery surrounding the will.

His final years were spent quietly in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with Betsy Arakawa. While he was known for his fierce commitment to his craft, his commitment to his family life, particularly after his divorce from Faye Maltese, remains a subject of public curiosity. The unfolding details of his estate will likely provide the final, and perhaps most controversial, chapter to the life of this cinematic giant. The legacy of Gene Hackman, the actor, is secure, but the legacy of Gene Hackman, the father, is still being written in the court documents.

how many children did gene hackman have
how many children did gene hackman have

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