Biography
Celebrity Spouse
Director
George Lucas-Net Worth, Films, House, Life, Wife, Kids, Twitter, Awards
George Lucas, one of the successful film directors is considered a significant figure of the 20th-century New Hollywood movement, who wrote & directed Star Wars (Orignal & Prequel trilogy; 6 films) and Indiana Jones (4 films) franchises.
Professional since 1965, Lucas, the founder of Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC- sold to Walt Disney in 2012, saw a drastic rise in his fortune after the sales at a staggering $4.05 billion.
The 4-time Academy Award nominee for Best Directing, George ranks #107 in the Forbes 400 2019 and is #325 on Billionaires 2019 list.
How Much Is George Lucas’ Net Worth In 2020?
With such a promising career as a film director, produce & (now) formerly the owner of film production company Lucasfilms, George earned the tag of billionaire & introduces his name among the richest filmmakers of all-time.
As per Forbes, as of February 16, 2020, the 75-year-old iconic film director George Lucas owns a net worth of $6.2 billion, while the Celebrity Net Worth reported his fortune at $6.5 billion in late 2019.
Not to forget that his massive donations accounting million of dollars, causes fluctuation in his net worth.
Source: Polygon
Without a doubt, Geroge’s movies being among the 100 highest-grossing movies in North America got him widened fortune growth over the years.
Through his production company Lucasfilm, Lucas released 6 movie franchise of Star Wars, that collected a whopping $4 billion worldwide ($9 billion throughout 9 movie set); & sealing the lone ownership of the company (including merch rights), it showered him with an immense sum.
Furthermore, with his friend Steven Spielberg, the California-born wrote & produced Indiana Jones film series (4 movies) that grossed $1.983 billion worldwide.
Don’t miss:Rachel Maddow Net Worth, salary, House, Life, education, Husband & Kids
These commercially successful projects saw through Lucas net worth of $60 million in 1983 to an entry in billionaire’s club, reporting to $3.5 billion in 2005, as per Forbes.
Founded ‘Lucasfilm’ & Directing Breakthrough With ‘American Graffiti’
With filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas co-founded the studio American Zoetrope and made directing debut through THX 1138 in 1971.
Thereafter, Lucas founded his own company Lucasfilm Ltd. in December 1971- the parent company to later founded subsidiary companies LucasArts (1982) and Industrial Light & Magic (1975).
With his production company, George directed & co-wrote the coming-of-age comedy film American Graffiti (1973) starring Ron Howard and Harrison Ford, that would collect $140 million over $770,000 budget.
Lucky Deal! 2 Condition Contract With Fox Made Him Billionaire
Lucas who got $150,000 salary for the direction of the film American Graffiti, was offered the payroll rise to $500,000 by Fox for Star Wars (1977), a space adventure film- he wrote the Star Wars after failure for rights on adaption to his childhood series Flash Gordon.
Rather than a raise in salary for directing, George Lucas made a proposition to work in $150,000, but would own 100% merch rights & further rights to any sequels of Star Wars, which the Fox agreed.
Source: Cine Filos
It turned out a great deal for George Lucas (arguably a huge loss for Fox). The first Star Wars movie, Episode IV- A New Hope made $775.5 million in gross ($11 million budget).
Further released of other 5 franchise films by 2012 through his production company Lucasfilm, got him $20 billion in merchandise sales & $4 billion through movie gross- thanks to his deal with Fox & whole ownership of the company.
Sold Production Company To Disney On Whopping $4 Billion
After 4 decades of his company foundation, in October 2012, he sold his company Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company for a reported $4.05 billion.
The CNBC reported that the deal included $2 billion in stocks & $2 billion in cash. Before the sales, Forbes estimated George Lucas’ net worth at $3.3 billion, while the deal would total him $5.2 billion fortune (after taxes) as per Wealth-X.
Reportedly, back in 1986, George got $5 million from Steve Jobs (during post-Apple career) after the sales of Pixar’s predecessor Graphics Group, one-third of the Computer Division of Lucasfilm.
6 Films Of ‘Star Wars’ & Film Series Of ‘Indiana Jones’: All Grossed Billion-Dollars
George Lucas directed the first Star Wars movie, Episode IV- A New Hope (1977) & later hired Irvin Kershner for Episode V- The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Richard Marquand for Episode VI- Return of the Jedi (1983).
Moreover, during the 80s, with Lucas in writing & his friend Spielberg in directing, released the Indiana Jones movie series ( 3 films, in 1981, 1984, 1989) & its 4th installment in 2008.
After 2 decades-long hiatus as director, the George Lucas came up with Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999, 2002 & 2005) & directed all those 3 movies.
-1581873339756.jpg)
Source: NBC
For the Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015, 2017 & 2019), he worked as a creative consultant. It was after 3 years of his company sales, George worked for Star Wars again- for its sequel trilogy’s first movie Episode VII- The Force Awakens (2015).
Here is the list of George Lucas’ salary from movie directing:
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)– $2.5 million & chunk from net profits
- Body Heat (1981)– $250,000 & 5% of profit
- Star Wars (1977)– $200,000 & 40% of net profit
- American Graffiti (1973)– $50,000 & 15% of gross
- THX 1138 (1971)– $15,000
- The Rain People (1969)– $3,000
- Finian’s Rainbow (1968)– $3,000
Box-Office Collection
Check out the box office collection from the Star Wars franchise.
| Star Wars Original Trilogy | ||
|---|---|---|
| Films | Budget | Gross Collection |
| Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford & Carrie Fisher | $11 million | $775.5 million |
| Episode V- The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | $33 million | $547.9 million |
| Episode VI- Return of the Jedi (1983) | $32.5- $42.7 million | $475.3 million |
| Star Wars Prequel Trilogy | ||
| Episode I- The Phantom Menace (1999) starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman | $115 million | $1.027 billion |
| Episode II- Attack of the Clones (2002) | $115 million | $653 million |
| Episode III- Revenge of the Sith (2005) | $113 million | $868 million |
| Total | $4.337 billion | |
Also, see the gross collection of Indiana Jones film series.
| Indiana Jones Film Series | ||
|---|---|---|
| Films | Budget | Box Office |
| Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) | $18 million | $389.9 million |
| Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) | $28.2 million | $333.1 million |
| Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) | $48 million | $474.2 million |
| Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) starring Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett & Karen Allen | $185 million | $786.6 million |
| Total | $1.983 billion | |
Spent $100 Million On 4,700 Acre Skywalker Ranch: Detail On His Real Estates
Since the purchase of the 4,700-acre Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, California in 1978, the American filmmaker has spent $100 million on the property on its renovations.
The ranch now features a 50,000 sq.ft. Victorian-style main house, three restaurants, and a movie production studio along with tennis court & pools.
Source: P-interest
In December 2019, the Star Wars director & writer bought a Cape Cod-style property in Carpinteria, California, for $28 million that features a guesthouse, and a treehouse.
The property is next door to his another property in Carpinteria, bought in 2010 for $19.5 million- it features 4-bedroom, a 2-bedroom guest house & a pool.
Back in June 2017, George purchased a Bel-Air mansion spread on 8,932 square feet & boasts 9 bedrooms & 8 bathrooms, for $33.9 million.
Source: Variety
Prior, the Bel Air property was in hands of billionaire H. Ross Perot (bought in March 2013 for $18 million from film producer Freddy DeMann).
His ‘Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’ Is Under Construction
Aside from an interest in movies, George Lucas, fond of paintings, photography, illustration, cinematic art & digital art, will exhibit his personal collection through self-founded Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
It will see him over $1 billion outgoings ($300 million costs of constructing, $400 million endowments on opening & further $400 million later).
The museum, being constructed in Exposition Park, Los Angeles California since January 2018, is expected to be completed by early 2021.
Reportedly, the museum was mapped at Crissy Field, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, in June 2013, but was moved with the proposition in Museum Campus in Chicago by 2014. However, due to the lawsuit by a local preservation group, the site again moved & settled in Exposition Park.
Signed ‘The Giving Pledge’ & Gave Millions Of Dollars In Donations
The American billionaire figure is an active charity worker & shows a huge commitment to an educational foundation.
In November 2012, after a month of selling his company, Lucasfilm, George & his second wife Mellody Hobson, who signed The Giving Pledge in 2010, pledged to donate the proceeds of $4 billion to an educational foundation.
By donating his #StarWars billions, George Lucas will become one of the biggest givers ever https://t.co/F9p9o7Osk6 pic.twitter.com/O7sYdJsyeD
— Forbes (@Forbes) December 24, 2015
Moreover, George Lucas, back in 2005, made $1 million donations to honor Martin Luther King Jr. with the construction of King Jr.’s memorial the National Mall in Washington D.C.
Reportedly, his giving to his alma mater USC was around $175- $180 million by September 2006. Lucas, the chairman of non-profit After School Matters, donated $25 million to the foundation in 2013.
He is the founder of George Lucas Educational Foundation, that manages funds more than $1 billion.
Married Twice & Father Of 4 Children: Hefty Alimony To First Wife
Born on May 14, 1944, in Modesto, California, the American filmmaker & writer George Walton Lucas Jr. is married twice & fathers 4 children (3 adopted & 1 via surrogacy).
Currently, Lucas lives with his second wife Mellody Hobson (has $10 million fortune), the president of Ariel Investments and chair of DreamWorks Animation.
The duo began dating in 2006 & exchanged vows on June 22, 2013, at Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch after 5 months of engagement. Together, they welcomed daughter Everest Hobson Lucas in 2013 via gestational surrogacy.
Formerly, Lucas was in a marital relationship with Marcia Lou Griffin, a film editor.
They married on February 22, 1969, & divorced in 1983 that got Marcia alimony of $50 million-it left Lucas with only $10 million & inclining cash-flow difficulties at that time.
While together, George & Marcia adopted a daughter Amanda Lucas in 1981.
Source: Alchetron
Later, after their divorce, the 5 ft. 7 inches tall film director adopted 2 more children as a single parent: daughter Katie Lucas (born in 1988, now an actress & writer) and son Jett Lucas (born in 1993).
Did you know? George Lucas, the son of Dorothy Ellinore Lucas and George Walton Lucas Sr., dreamed of being a race-car driver but transited to film making, after a car accident on June 12, 1962, left him with severe injury.
