Gene Hackman’s $80 million estate hit with bill as actor died with 5-figure credit card debt



Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa‘s estates were reportedly left with outstanding debts following their tragic deaths earlier this year.

The Hollywood star, who was found dead in his home last February alongside his wife and one of their dogs, owed Citibank $98,345.29 for non-payment on a credit card, per court docs Us Weekly obtained.

🎬 Get Free Netflix Logins

Claim your free working Netflix accounts for streaming in HD! Limited slots available for active users only.

  • No subscription required
  • Works on mobile, PC & smart TV
  • Updated login details daily
🎁 Get Netflix Login Now

Arakawa, for her part, reportedly owed Bank of America a smaller sum of $4,329.75.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa reportedly owed banks thousands of dollars when they died. Getty Images
Citibank and Bank of America recently filed claims against the late couple, according to Us Weekly. BACKGRID

It’s possible that due to their untimely deaths, Hackman and Arakawa were unable to settle the debts prior to their passing, and, therefore, the banks allegedly filed the claims to recoup the funds.

New Mexico officials revealed in March that Arakawa died first at age 65 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare rodent-transmitted virus.

Hackman, who had been battling Alzheimer’s disease, died days later from the mental illness and cardiac disease. He was 95.

Arakawa, Hackman and one of their dogs were found dead inside their New Mexico home in February. Facebook / Animal Rescue, Inc.
It appears the couple was not able to settle all of their debts before their untimely deaths. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Their deaths remained unknown for days until a maintenance worker found them. Arakawa’s body had even begun decomposing and had signs of mummification, per officials.

Hackman reportedly left behind an $80 million fortune, so it is likely that the aforementioned debts — which are minuscule in comparison — have already been settled or will be soon.

An attorney for the “French Connection” star and Arakawa did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment. Page Six has also reached out to the late actor’s publicist.

Hackman reportedly left behind an $80 million fortune. Getty Images
The movie star had named Arakawa the successor of his estate, but due to her dying before him, the trusts are being legally contested by his three adult kids. Getty Images

The Daily Mail reported earlier this year that Hackman’s will — which had not been updated since June 2005 — made Arakawa his successor trustee.

However, because she died before him, it’s unclear whether the “Behind Enemy Lines” star’s three adult children will become the beneficiaries, as they were not mentioned in the original will.

It’s been rumored that Christopher Allen Hackman, Elizabeth Jean Hackman and Leslie Anne Hackman — who claimed they were “devastated” by Gene’s death — were estranged from their famous father.


Let’s be honest—no matter how stressful the day gets, a good viral video can instantly lift your mood. Whether it’s a funny pet doing something silly, a heartwarming moment between strangers, or a wild dance challenge, viral videos are what keep the internet fun and alive.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Adblock Detected

  • Please deactivate your VPN or ad-blocking software to continue