Forbes net worth data proves Miss Americana Taylor Swift, one of the most culturally influential musicians all around the world, shot to immeasurable heights in 2024. Despite the mega pop star swooping in and conquering the billionaire tag while traversing the globe thanks to her record-smashing Eras Tour, the 34-year-old is, in fact, not the richest celebrity.
The true revelation is definitely a sight to behold for cinephiles who often advocate for how filmmakers should be credited more for their expansive and imaginative world-building in films and stories that even possess the superpower to transgress real-life concepts and laws. Leaving behind every other top Hollywood actor, musician, socialite and even sports star, an explicably and agreeably American director, whose undeniable strokes of genius have consequentially expanded Disney’s fortune, stands on top of the billionaire net worth table.
George Lucas net worth
According to Forbes’ World’s Celebrity Billionaires 2024 roster which estimates top 14 celebrities’ net worth as of March 8, 2024, Star Wars director George Lucas is the winner. Beating names like Jurassic Park’s auteur Steven Spielberg, star athletes Michael Jordan and LeBron James, talk show icon Oprah Winfrey and artists like Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Jay-Z, the 80-year-old Star Wars storyteller debuted as a billionaire in 1997. Per the latest data offered by Forbes, Lucas is worth $5.5 billion, which in large part comes from his production company LucasFilm.
Bloomberg reports, on the other hand, revealed that George Lucas’ net worth as of October 2024 was a whopping $7.7 billion. Some estimates even suggested that it could be touching the $9.4 billion mark. Multiple reports even insist that it would take the legendary film icon 22,000 years to cash out his $7.7 billion net worth.
Beyond the billion net worth status
George Lucas started his company away from Hollywood in Northern California in 1971, gaining creative independence. The LucasFilm brand has since branched out into influential banners Industrial Light & Magic (visual effects), THX (sound company) and LucasArts (gaming). The visionary filmmaker’s ultimately shot towards global sensation status with his 1977 breakout space fantasy Star Wars: A New Hope. The subsequent creative investment in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 encouraged the company to expand its visual effects and sound operations.
As a pioneer in storytelling, LucasFilm’s larger-than-life inspirations continued with other beloved successes including the Indiana Jones adventures (with Steven Spielberg in the director’s seat, based on a story by George Lucas). The Star Wars creator ultimately sold his production company to Disney in 2012 for more than $4 billion in cash and stock. He has since largely stepped back from filmmaking. In fact, Lucas has only directed six films throughout the course of his career. These are: THX 1138, American Graffiti, and four Star Wars films. Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith was his final film as a director.
George Lucas’ student life
Before his big-shot directing days, the LucasFilm founder attended junior college in his hometown on Modesto, California, and then enrolled in the University of Southern California film school. As the son of a stationery store owner, George Lucas was raised on a walnut ranch.
Some time down the line, the USC graduate was awarded the scholarship to watch the filming of Francis Ford Coppola’s directorial Finian’s Rainbow. The following year Lucas joined Coppola as an assistant on The Rain People. Together, they also founded the independent film production company American Zoetrope. It’s first project was Lucas’ full-length version of THX:1138 — a short film he made as student at USC, winning the leading prize at the 1967-68 National Student Film Festival.
George Lucas’ masterful legacy lives on
In his personal life, the Star Wars and Indiana Jones creator is a father to four children: Amanda, Katie, Jett and Everest. On the creative side of things, Lucas has snagged countless accolades over the years, including the prestigious Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Having retired his filmmaking position, George Lucas has focussed his energies on philanthropy, with his family foundation having more than $1 billion in assets.
Beyond films, he’s also invested in real estate with properties like the famed Northern California office compound Skywalker Ranch under his name. Looking over the net worth table, the creator of galaxies once ironically proclaimed, “I’ve never been into science fiction.” Instead, he believes himself to be a “frustrated architect” at heart, per Architectural Digest. Thankfully, he “couldn’t get past the math.”