Highlights
- George Lucas is one of the wealthiest celebrities alive in 2024, with a reported net worth of $5.7 billion.
- Lucas has donated half of his fortune to various charities, including the George Lucas Family Foundation.
- Despite his wealth, Lucas spends a little on himself but mainly gives his wealth away and invests in charitable causes.
Iconic filmmaker George Lucas is best known for creating the Star Wars franchise and co-creating the Indiana Jones franchise. Lucas’ brilliant vision and business-savvy have certainly helped make him a billionaire. Indeed, Lucas built an empire and amassed a reported MASSIVE $5.7 billion net worth.
George Lucas is one of the wealthiest celebrities alive in 2024. His classic films transcend time. For instance, Star Wars is a cultural phenomenon that’ll undoubtedly outlive Lucas and the original cast. Lucas has also been at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and special effects. In 2012, George Lucas decided it was time to retire and he hung up his lightsaber. Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Walt Disney Studios and became an extraordinarily wealthy person.
Of course, the burning question on everyone’s mind is, "How does George Lucus spend his billions"?
George Lucas spends a little bit of his fortune on himself. However, he mostly gives it away. Of course, he invests, too. It’s time to take a closer look at Lucas and his empire. Here’s how George Lucas spends his reported $5.7 billion net worth.
RelatedGeorge Lucas Refused To Speak To Original Darth Vader Actor David Prowse, Here's What Really Caused Their Bitter Feud
Geroge Lucas' feud with David Prowse, the actor who originally embodied Darth Vader, became legendary.Updated April 2024:George Lucas had his net worth updated on April 2, 2024. At that time, "Forbes" named him the "richest celebrity in the world." While this figure is less than the $7.4 billion that Lucas was worth in 2021, it is up from the $5 billion he was worth in 2023. But with Lucas giving so much of his wealth away to charity, it is not surprising that his net worth has gone down over time.
14 George Lucas Sold LucasFilm To Disney
Money Made: $4 Billion
George Lucas spent years building an incredible empire. However, he eventually felt it was time to retire.
In 2012, Lucas sold his company, Lucasfilm, to Disney - for a whopping $4 billion. Lucas also receives royalties for all the Star Wars saga merchandise and Indiana Jones merchandise.
At the time of the sale, Lucas announced that most of the money would be going to charity.
13 George Lucas Purchased Two Beachfront Homes Next To Each Other
Money Spent: $47.5 million
George Lucas and his family have lived in a long list of impressive homes. In 2010, Lucas purchased a $19.5 million beachfront property on Padaro Lane in Carpinteria, California.
In 2019, Lucas bought the property next door for $28 million, turning the two properties into one compound, featuring a barn, a treehouse, and a guesthouse.
12 George Lucas Created The George Lucas Family Foundation
Money Spent: $1 billion
Rich and famous George Lucas is never one to back down from a challenge.
In 2010, billionaires, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, challenged other wealthy individuals to contribute to charities. Lucas accepted the challenge and has already donated half of his fortune.
Eventually, he created the George Lucas Family Foundation and included an endowment of more than $1 billion.
RelatedGeorge Lucas Isn't Leaving Much of His Multi-Billion Dollar Star Wars Fortune To His Kids, Here's Why
George Lucas decided not to leave his kids the billions he has earned and he has a really good reason why.11 George Lucas And His Family Bought And Sold Bette Midler’s Previous Home
Money Made: $4.3 million
As we mentioned earlier, George Lucas owns several properties - he has beautiful homes all over the world.
In 2008, Lucas and his family moved into Bette Midler’s former home in Hollywood, California. In 2010, Lucas and his family moved out, but the value of the home went up.
In 2019, the house went back on the market for an asking price of $4.3 million.
10 George Lucas Donated Land To Create Imagination Park
Money Spent: Unknown
San Anselmo, California, has a special place in George Lucas’ heart. Indeed, Lucas created Star Wars and Indiana Jones after moving to San Anselmo in 1973.
In 2012, Lucas donated land to the city, which became the 8,700-square-foot Imagination Park that we know today. The park features statues of Lucas’ iconic characters, such as Yoda and Indiana Jones.
RelatedHarrison Ford's "Most Expensive Divorce In Hollywood History" Resulted In A Depressing Decline To His Indiana Jones Profits
Harrison Ford lost a fortune following his divorce settlement from Melissa Mathison.9 George Lucas Donates To Several Charities, Including The Film Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer, And The Make-A-Wish Foundation
Money Spent: Half of George Lucas' net worth
As noted, George Lucas joined Bill Gates and Warren Buffett by accepting the Giving Pledge challenge. These billionaires promise to give away half (or more) of their fortunes to charity.
Lucas is known for his charity work. He helps the film industry by donating to the Film Foundation. He also donates to the Make-a-Wish Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer.
8 George Lucas Donated To His Alma Mater, USC
Money Spent: $175 million
George Lucas regularly donates to film schools and helps foster new talent in the industry.
In 1991, Lucas created the George Lucas Education Foundation and began giving out several grants. He also helps out young talent that needs a break.
Lucas donated a reported $175 million to his alma mater, the University of Southern California Film School in 2006.
7 George Lucas Purchased A Mansion In Bel-Air
Money Spent: $33.9 million
George Lucas and his family moved around from home to home. However, there’s a good chance they’ve settled down now.
In 2017, Lucas purchased a $33.9 million mansion in Bel-Air. The 8,932-square-foot home is known as “Mi Patria.” The stunning estate features a gourmet eat-in kitchen, library, nine bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a courtyard, and tropical gardens.
6 George Lucas Donated To Help Build The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial
Money Spent: $1 million
Many causes are significant to George Lucas. He cares about helping the less fortunate but also cares about remembering the past.
In 2005, Lucas donated $1 million to help build the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The memorial covers four acres next to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It honors the civil rights leader and features the Stone of Hope.
5 George Lucas Develops The Skywalker Ranch
Money Spent: $100 million
In 1978, George Lucas began building Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, California. Lucas has spent over $100 million to develop the property, which includes a technical building featuring editing rooms, a 300-seat theatre, and screening rooms. It also consists of a 50,000 square foot home, library, swimming pool, barn, movie theatre, and fire brigade.
However, Lucas does not live at the ranch - he only uses it for work. We assume he's got enough homes to live in already...
4 Since Retiring, George Lucas Focuses On Experimental Movies
Money Spent: Unknown
George Lucas is known for creating two of the most commercially successful franchises of all time. Lucas spent years creating big-budget movies with groundbreaking special effects. His films took audiences all over the world...and all over the galaxy.
However, since retiring, Lucas has been focusing on his passion for experimental cinema. He spends all his time in the garage, working on his hobbies.
3 George Lucas Tried Building Lower Income Homes In One Of The Richest Parts Of America
Money Spent: None
At one point, George Lucas had plans to expand Lucasfilm on his Grady Ranch property in Marin County, California. However, the residents protested the expansion.
Marin County is one of the wealthiest parts of America.
In 2012, Lucas decided to turn the land into affordable housing. Of course, residents also opposed that decision.
Lucas and the residents continued to battle over the property for several years until Disney eventually bought the property as part of purchasing LucasFilm.
2 In 2015, George Lucas Donated To Over 200 Organizations
Money Spent: $64 million
After selling Lucasfilm to Disney, George Lucas promised that most of the money would be going to charity and he kept his word.
In 2015, Lucas donated $64 million to over 200 various organizations. He gave to several museums and various wildlife initiatives. Lucas also donated to multiple programs providing assistance to inner-city youth.
1 George Lucas Builds The Non-Profit Lucas Museum Of Narrative Art
Money Spent: $1 billion
In 2017, George Lucas announced the creation of the $1 billion non-profit Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Lucas also included a $400 million endowment for the incredible museum.
It will feature Lucas’s personal art collection, screening rooms, a free public library, and a Star Wars exhibit. Also, the construction of the building created 1,400 jobs.
The 300,000-square-foot museum tentatively opens to the public in 2025.
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