Where Does Gene Hackman Live? Inside His Real Life Homes
Do you remember that super villain from the Superman series produced by Ilya and Alexander in 1978? Yes, I’m talking about the most famous supervillain of that era, Lex Luthor!! This character was played by Gene Hackman. Gene Hackman was an American actor and was considered one of the greatest actors of his time and a paragon of a new Hollywood movement. His career spanned over four decades. Today we are going to talk about where does Gene Hackman live and Gene Hackman house. So let’s get started.
Where does Gene Hackman lived? (Or where did he live!)
For so many years Gene Hackman lived on a hilltop just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico.
He lived there with his wife Betsy Arakawa. That Santa Fe house seems to have been his main base for later years, especially after he retired from acting career.
Gene Hackman house in Santa Fe, the hilltop retreat
Whenever I think of the word Gene Hackman house, the first thing that comes in my mind is that Santa Fe house. It’s not just about the flashy things and a brand new mansion but a loving renovated older house that is spread on 12 acres of land and pinon covered hilltop with breathtaking views of mountains.
This house was once a modest 1950s block style building that Hackman renovated and converted this house into a charm character home. The ceilings were raised to 20 ft. and the walls removed to create a dramatic look with open layout and tree trunk support columns.
It surprised me that how deeply he was involved in every detail from distressed plaster walls to hand finished beams, really shaping the space to feel lived-in then aged and full of personality.
If we talk about inside, there was a blend of southwestern aesthetic, European antiques, even Moroccan touches, not sticking strictly to one style but mixing what felt right like cozy sofas, big open rooms, natural lights and rustic charm.
I think Hackman apparently saw this house as more than just a place to sleep. It is like a sanctuary for reading, painting, playing music and a lot of things.
Gene Hackman house Santa Fe
Sadly, in 2025 the media revealed that both Hackman and his wife were found dead inside that Santa Fe home.
After their passing, police and reporters released photos and bodycam footage from the home offering a glimpse into the private retreat.
One reporter said that compound was valued around 4 million dollars. Inside some rooms looked cluttered with personal belongings, boxes, furniture and crates for the dogs. It painted a picture of a very private life which is quite reclusive and deeply personal.
Gene Hackman house Pebble Beach, California
That Santa Fe house was not just the only property that Hackman had. Earlier he also owned a home in Pebble Beach, California.
The Pebble Beach house was a more conventional property included 4 bedrooms with 5 bathrooms.
Why did he choose Santa Fe house?
Well, if we go back and look at the old interviews, Hackman described his house not as a showroom but as a home with history and soul. More like a barn converted into a house, massive and cozy at the same time.
He wasn’t really interested in creating a new house. Instead he loved the idea of giving a new life to something old and letting materials age, acquiring patina and shaping imperfections so the home felt timeless and lived in.
My Personal Reflection
If you think about Gene Hackman’s house life like this — not as a fan gawking at a mansion but as someone imagining what it would be like to live somewhere quiet, open, rooted in nature, I kind of admire the humility. A big house, sure, but the one there wasn’t about showing off, the one that was said by the person lived in it.
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