Gene Hackman Net Worth

What was Gene Hackman's Net Worth and Salary?

Gene Hackman was an American actor and novelist who had a net worth of $80 million. Gene Hackman's journey to stardom followed service in the Marines and years of struggle in New York theater. His breakthrough came with his Oscar-nominated supporting role in 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde," but it was his portrayal of the relentless detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in 1971's "The French Connection" that earned him his first Academy Award and cemented his status as a leading man with uncompromising intensity.

The 1970s saw Hackman deliver an extraordinary range of performances, from his paranoid surveillance expert in Coppola's "The Conversation" to the iconic villain Lex Luthor in "Superman." He brought gravitas to ensemble films like "The Poseidon Adventure" and "A Bridge Too Far," while showcasing his comedic talents in "Young Frankenstein."

Hackman continued his artistic evolution throughout the 1980s with standout roles in "Hoosiers" and earned another Oscar nomination for "Mississippi Burning." His career experienced a brilliant resurgence in the 1990s, winning his second Academy Award as the ruthless sheriff in Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" (1992). Before retiring from acting in 2004 after "Welcome to Mooseport," Hackman delivered commanding performances in "The Firm," "Crimson Tide," "Enemy of the State," and "The Royal Tenenbaums," demonstrating his remarkable depth as a character actor. Gene Hackman won more than 30 awards, including two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, and two BAFTAs.

In retirement, Hackman pursued writing, co-authoring several novels, including historical fiction. He published "Payback at Morning Peak" in 2011 and "Pursuit" in 2013. He co-wrote three historical fiction novels with undersea archaeologist Daniel Lenihan: 1999's "Wake of the Perdido Star," 2004's "Justice for None," and 2008's "Escape from Andersonville."

Death

The deceased bodies of Gene and his wife, Betsy, were found on February 26. Investigators would later determine that Betsy had died on February 11 of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Gene, who had been suffering from advanced Alzheimer's, continued living in the home for another week, dying on February 18 of severe heart disease. Investigators were able to determine Gene's exact death date thanks to his pacemaker.

Will & Estate

Gene was married twice during his lifetime. His first marriage produced three children. Gene had a difficult relationship with his children, admitting later in life that he was not around much when they were young. In 1991, Gene married Betsy Arakawa. In 1995, he signed a will that made Betsy his sole beneficiary. A will that Betsy signed sometime thereafter left her assets to Gene. But there's a twist. Betsy's will contained a provision that if they died within 90 days of each other, their deaths would be considered "simultaneous," and in that event, her share of the assets would go to charity. Meanwhile, since Betsy is deceased, Gene's share of his assets might go to his next living heirs, which would be his children.

(Photo by Vera Anderson/WireImage)

Early Life

Eugene Allen Hackman was born on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California. His father, Eugene Sr. (a printing press operator for the "Commercial-News"), and mother, Anna, divorced in 1943. Eugene Sr. abandoned Gene and his brother, Richard.

After living in several cities, Gene grew up in Danville, Illinois, and he became interested in acting at the age of 10. He attended Storm Lake High School in Iowa but dropped out at 16 to enlist in the Marine Corps (after lying about his age), where he served as a field radio operator for 4 1/2 years. Hackman was discharged in 1951 and moved to New York.

He later enrolled at the University of Illinois to study television production and journalism, then relocated to Los Angeles and began taking acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse Theatre in 1956. He became good friends with classmate Dustin Hoffman. The two were roommates after Gene moved to NYC in 1957.

Early Career and Stage Beginnings

Gene Hackman's path to stardom was famously non-linear. After serving in the Marine Corps, he moved to California to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse, where he and close friend Dustin Hoffman were famously voted "Least Likely to Succeed." Undeterred, he moved to New York City and began working in summer stock and off-Broadway.

In 1958, Hackman was cast in the off-Broadway production of "Chaparral." By 1961, he made his professional transition to the screen, debuting in the film "Mad Dog Coll" and appearing in an episode of the TV series "Tallahassee 7000." During this period, he honed his craft in guest spots on shows like "The Defenders" and "Route 66."

Breakthrough and Oscar Recognition

Hackman's breakthrough arrived in 1964 when director Robert Rossen cast him in "Lilith." It was on this set that he met Warren Beatty, a connection that would prove pivotal. Beatty later championed Hackman for the role of Buck Barrow in the 1967 classic "Bonnie and Clyde." The performance was a revelation, earning Hackman his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and establishing him as a top-tier talent.

During this rise, Hackman notably turned down the role of Mike Brady on "The Brady Bunch" after his agent advised him to hold out for more prestigious film work. The gamble paid off; in 1970, he earned another Oscar nomination for "I Never Sang for My Father."

1970s: Leading Man and Iconic Roles

The 1970s cemented Hackman as a powerhouse leading man. In 1971, he delivered his most iconic performance as Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in "The French Connection," a role that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor. He followed this success with a string of hits:

• 1972: Starred in the disaster epic "The Poseidon Adventure."
• 1973: Won a BAFTA for Best Actor (honoring both "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The French Connection").
• 1974: Earned critical acclaim in Francis Ford Coppola's psychological thriller "The Conversation" and showed his comedic range in Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein."

In 1978, Hackman showcased his versatility by playing the villainous Lex Luthor in "Superman: The Movie." He would later reprise the role in "Superman II" (1980) and "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace" (1987).

1980s: Versatility and "Hoosiers"

Throughout the 1980s, Hackman remained one of the hardest-working actors in Hollywood. He starred in the political thriller "No Way Out" (1987) and the gritty "Red" (1981). However, he is perhaps best remembered from this decade for his role as Coach Norman Dale in the 1986 sports drama "Hoosiers," which is frequently cited as one of the greatest sports films of all time.

He ended the decade with another Oscar-nominated turn as a relentless FBI agent in the civil rights drama "Mississippi Burning" (1988), for which he also won the National Board of Review Award for Best Actor.

(Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)

1990s: A Second Oscar and Collaborative Hits

The 1990s saw Hackman enter a "statesman" phase of his career. In 1993, he won his second Academy Award (Best Supporting Actor) for his terrifying portrayal of Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven."

He became a frequent face in high-stakes thrillers and Westerns, including:

• Legal Thrillers: "The Firm" (1993) and "The Chamber" (1996).
• Westerns: "Wyatt Earp" (1994) and "The Quick and the Dead" (1995).
• Action/Comedy: "Crimson Tide" (1995) and "Get Shorty" (1995).

2000s: The Final Curtain and Retirement

Hackman's final years on screen were marked by a balance of quirky indies and blockbuster dramas. He earned widespread critical acclaim and a Golden Globe for his comedic performance in Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001). In 2003, he finally shared the screen with his long-time friend Dustin Hoffman in "Runaway Jury."

In July 2004, Hackman announced his retirement from acting during an interview with Larry King. His final film credit was the comedy "Welcome to Mooseport" (2004). Since stepping away from the camera, he has transitioned into a successful career as a novelist and has occasionally lent his voice to military documentaries, such as "The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima" (2016) and "We, the Marines" (2017).

Personal Life

Gene married Faye Maltese on January 1, 1956. They had three children together, Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie, before divorcing in 1986. He went on to marry Betsy Arakawa in December 1991. Hackman has competed in several racing competitions, including the 24 Hours of Daytona Endurance Race and the Long Beach Grand Prix Celebrity Race. In 1990, Gene underwent an angioplasty after he began having chest pains while vacationing in Oregon, and in 2012, he was hit by a car while riding a bike in the Florida Keys. On February 26, 2025, Gene, his wife, and their dog were found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was 95.

Evan Agostini / Getty Images

Awards and Honors

In 1972, Hackman won a Best Actor Academy Award for "The French Connection." He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "Unforgiven" in 1993. These two films also earned him BAFTA Awards, Golden Globes, and New York Film Critics Circle Awards. At the Golden Globes, Gene also won the Cecil B. DeMille Award (2003) and the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical award for his performance in "The Royal Tenenbaums." Though the majority of Hackman's awards honored his work in "The French Connection," "Unforgiven," and "The Royal Tenenbaums," he won awards for "The Poseidon Adventure," "Mississippi Burning," "The Birdcage," "Bonnie and Clyde," and "The Conversation" as well. In 2015, he received the Career – Honorary Award at the CinEuphoria Awards.

Santa Fe Mansion

For several decades, Gene lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Drawn to Santa Fe after visiting in the 1980s, Gene purchased a 12-acre hilltop property there in 1990​. He proceeded to transform the former 1950s lock building into a sprawling 8,000-square-foot Southwestern-style home boasting 360-degree mountain views stretching to the distant Colorado peaks​. In 2000, Hackman even added a separate 2,367-square-foot guesthouse on the property​. In January 2026, Gene's estate was listed for sale for $6.25 million. Here is a video tour:

Will Smith and Jada Smith visited Hackman in Santa Fe during the filming of "Enemy of the State" and stayed at his house. Will and Jada were so enthralled by the "Santa Fe style" of his property that they hired Hackman's architect to design what eventually became their 20,000-square-foot multi-structure compound set on 100 acres in Malibu.

In the 1980s, Gene and his first wife restored a 25-acre property in Montecito, California. He sold for $5.5 million in 1985. In 2015, a later owner sold this house for $25 million. Hackman also previously owned a house in Pebble Beach, California, which he sold in 1993. This home was listed for $79 million in 2012.

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