On Saturday, September 19, George Lucas welcomed some of the very first guests to the long-awaited Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which is set to open its doors soon in Los Angeles.
Guests included Deborah Roberts and Al Roker, Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton, Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau, Oprah, Nicolas Cage, Eva Longoria, Samuel L. Jackson, Jon M. Chu, Ted Sarandos, Bob Iger, Nancy Pelosi, Karen Bass, and many others.
The museum, a "narrative art" museum which will house a selection of the Star Wars creator's more than 40,000 paintings, illustrations, collectibles and memorabilia, has been 10 years in the making.
© Getty ImagesIt reportedly cost $1 billion to bring it to life, and it was entirely funded by Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson.
© Getty ImagesGeorge Lucas' net worth
Lucas is currently worth $5.315 billion, according to Forbes. He is reportedly one of only five directors who are worth over $1 billion, the other four being James Cameron ($1.1 billion), Tyler Perry ($1.4B), Peter Jackson ($1.7B), and Steven Spielberg ($7.1B), who was in attendance at the museum opening.
Lucas has largely retired from filmmaking, and in 2012, he sold his production company Lucasfilm, which he founded in 1971, to Disney for $4.1 billion in stock and cash.
He is now also known as a devout philanthropist, and has pledged much of his money to educational causes via the George Lucas Educational Foundation and George Lucas Family Foundation, which holds over $1 billion in assets and supports childhood development, mentorship, medical research, and cultural institutions.
© Getty ImagesHis wife is a soccer team owner
In addition to working with her husband on their cultural and philanthropic efforts, Mellody is also a revered businesswoman. She is president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments, which is based in Chicago and manages over $14 billion in assets, and is former chair of Starbucks as well as of DreamWorks Animation. She is on numerous boards, and was a contributor to financial segments on Good Morning America and CBS This Morning for many years.
Mellody is also an investor and alternate governor for the National Women's Soccer League Denver expansion franchise, the Denver Summit, investing through Ariel Investments' Project Level, a dedicated women's sports fund.
© Getty ImagesAbout the museum
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will officially open its doors to the public on September 22. Designed by Ma Yansong, it sits on approximately 13 acres of parkland and gardens in Los Angeles's Exposition Park.
