Gene Hackman’s Children Stunned After Being Left Out of His Will—Inside the $80M Fortune Battle

Gene Hackman’s children are reportedly not included in his will, which leaves his entire $80 million fortune to his wife Betsy, who died alongside him in their New Mexico home

Gene Hackman left his fortune to his wife

In a bombshell revelation, it’s come to light that Gene Hackman’s offspring have been left out of his will, setting the stage for what could be a titanic clash over his whopping $80 million fortune.

The plot thickens as it turns out that Hackman’s entire stash was earmarked for his spouse Betsy upon his passing, bypassing his trio of children: Christopher, Leslie, and Elizabeth. In a dramatic turn, should both Hackman and Betsy pass within a 90-day window, the entirety of Betsy’s assets were destined for charitable causes.

Stateside sources are buzzing with word that Hackman’s son has already snagged a high-flying attorney with a knack for contesting wills, hinting that this family drama might just hit the courts. Despite being snubbed in the will, the children could still lay claim to their inheritance as direct living descendants.

Notably, Hackman and his better half didn’t lock down a pre-nup agreement.

Tango dancers swirl in tribute to Pope Francis outside his hospital

Previously, Hackman’s kids have expressed that they shared a warm bond with their father. However, his daughter, Elizabeth, had reportedly fallen out of contact with him in the months leading up to his demise, reports the Mirror.

Gene Hackman left everything to his wife
Legal eagle John Budagher, from the firm Budagher and Tann, has hinted at a potential legal showdown brewing on the horizon. He pointed out that the timing of any will or legal documents’ signatures could play a pivotal role, especially if there have been recent changes which could be scrutinized given Hackman’s battle with Alzheimer’s.

“If it’s more recent, that doesn’t mean it’s invalid,” he commented. “It just means it’s riper for a potential challenge – especially if it’s doing something like leaving everything to a caretaker.”

The estate of Hackman is reportedly pushing to prevent the Santa Fe medical examiner and the Sheriff’s Office from disclosing videos, images, and police bodycam footage, a move anticipated earlier in the week by The Mirror.

Two weeks back, Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy, 65, were found deceased in separate areas of their abode in Santa Fe. It was determined that Betsy succumbed to a rare lung condition about a week prior to her husband’s passing.

Gene Hackman and his wife were found death earlier this month

With Hackman suffering from Alzheimer’s, authorities deduced that he possibly remained oblivious to his wife’s demise.

Earlier this week, The Mirror shared a poignant moment where Hackman’s dogs poignantly guided paramedics to his remains out of loyalty. Bear, a German Shepherd, and Nikita, a mix of Akita and Shepherd, repeatedly approached and barked at first responders before dashing away, prompting officers to initially think they wanted to play, only later realizing that the dogs were leading them to where Hackman lay in the mudroom.

Betsy lost her life on February 11 due to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome—a disease transmitted by rodents—and roughly on February 18, Gene passed away. Dr. Michael Baden, a forensic pathologist, offered an explanation for why they hadn’t been discovered sooner: “I think what [happened] here is he didn’t realize it and … didn’t understand that she was dead. He didn’t understand that he needed to call 911.”