Gene Hackman’s Will Left Everything to His Wife, But His Kids May Still Claim His Estate

FILE PHOTO: Gene Hackman poses during the 60th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, U.S. January 19, 2003. REUTERS/Andy Clark/File Photo

The Celebrity Beat…

Gene Hackman had an estate worth an estimated $80 million, and his will leaves it all to his wife Betsy.  It makes no mention of his three children from his previous marriage.

But since Betsy died before him, that potentially renders the will invalid, meaning the kids would be next in line to inherit it.

Betsy had a will, too.  It left everything to Gene, with the provision that if he died first, it would go into a trust and then to CHARITY.

Now, I’m no lawyer, but does that mean that if it was determined that Gene died first, their combined estates would have gone to Betsy, and THEN to charity, and NOT to Gene’s kids?

If so…and I realize this is a bit morbid…but financially speaking, they caught kind of a lucky break.

On a related note, although we all pretty much knew this already, authorities have confirmed that the dog that was stuck in his crate when Gene and Betsy passed away most likely died of dehydration and starvation.

SOURCE: Deadline