Gene Hackman's $6 Million Santa Fe Home Where He Died Alongside Wife Finds a Buyer in Less Than 2 Weeks

The property features a main house and guest house, both with three bedrooms, along with a lap pool, putting green, and acres of woodland.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:07am

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Gene Hackman's $6.25 million, 53-acre Santa Fe estate has found a buyer just 11 days after hitting the market. Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at the home in February 2025. The couple's personal effects had been removed and the home was professionally staged before the listing.

Why it matters

The quick sale of Hackman's estate highlights the complex considerations buyers may face when purchasing a property where a death has occurred, even for a high-profile celebrity. However, the home's many amenities and scenic location in Santa Fe ultimately proved appealing to some buyers.

The details

The property features a main house and guest house, both with three bedrooms, along with a lap pool, putting green, and acres of woodland. Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found dead at the home in advanced states of decomposition. Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, while Hackman died of severe heart disease, high blood pressure, and advanced Alzheimer's disease.

  • Hackman and Arakawa were found dead at their home on Feb. 26, 2025.
  • Arakawa's last outward communication was via email on Feb. 11.
  • Hackman's pacemaker last showed activity on Feb. 17.

The players

Gene Hackman

A 95-year-old acclaimed actor who lived in Santa Fe since the 1990s.

Betsy Arakawa

Hackman's 65-year-old wife who died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Tara S. Earley

A real estate agent with Sotheby's International Realty who listed the property.

Ricky Allen

A real estate agent with Sotheby's International Realty who listed the property.

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What they’re saying

“There will be some buyers that are just averse to purchasing a property where a death has occurred. There are other buyers for whom that doesn't matter. We are selling the property on its virtues and all of the positives.”

— Tara S. Earley, Real estate agent

What’s next

A small, private memorial was held for Hackman and Arakawa in April in Santa Fe.

The takeaway

The quick sale of Hackman's Santa Fe estate, despite the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths of the actor and his wife, demonstrates the resilience of the high-end real estate market and the appeal of the property's many amenities and scenic location.