George Lucas Buys £40 Million London Pad
Reports indicate that Star Wars visionary George Lucas has acquired a luxurious London residence valued at £40 million (roughly $52 million).
In September, Lucas, who is 81, secured a property in a "prestigious area" of North West London, which Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, November 4. Both Bloomberg and The Times of London noted that a prominent city lawyer was the former owner of the estate.
These publications highlight Lucas's acquisition as one of the most significant transactions in London's real estate sector for the current year. According to The Times, this represents the most substantial property deal in the British capital since fashion icon Tom Ford reportedly acquired a Chelsea residence for £80 million ($104 million) in November of last year.
Additionally, Lucas possesses the renowned Skywalker Ranch, an expansive 4,700-acre estate in Marin County, California, which houses his administrative offices, central hub for diverse business activities, and state-of-the-art film production studios.
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According to The Wall Street Journal, the director acquired a $28 million beachfront estate in Carpinteria, California, in December 2019. This extensive plot features a Cape Cod-inspired main residence, a separate guesthouse, a whimsical tree house, and a barn. The publication indicated that this property sits adjacent to the Carpinteria beach house he previously bought for $19.5 million in 2010. As detailed by Architectural Digest, that earlier acquisition offers a modern four-bedroom home, a two-bedroom guesthouse, a dedicated yoga space, a fitness room, and a courtyard complete with a swimming pool.
Located about 11 miles from Santa Barbara, Carpinteria attracts Hollywood luminaries seeking a more tranquil lifestyle. Among the other notable figures who owned real estate in the city in late 2019 were Ellen DeGeneres — who has since relocated to the U.K. alongside her wife Portia de Rossi — and Kevin Costner.
"It offers greater seclusion compared to Malibu, Santa Monica, or similar locations," stated luxury real estate professional Tim Hoctor, who acted on behalf of Costner during the sale of his residence, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal in December 2019. Hoctor mentioned that Costner eventually chose to retain his estate.
Meanwhile, Lucas amassed his wealth by originating the iconic Star Wars and Indiana Jones sagas. In 2012, he divested his production studio, Lucasfilm, along with the intellectual property rights to both series, to Disney for a sum of $4.05 billion in a combination of cash and equity.
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“For three and a half decades, witnessing Star Wars transition through successive generations has been one of my deepest joys,” Lucas remarked at that juncture. “The moment has arrived for me to entrust Star Wars to a fresh cohort of filmmakers. My conviction has always been that Star Wars could transcend my individual involvement, and establishing this handover during my lifetime felt crucial. I am certain that with Lucasfilm guided by Kathleen Kennedy, and finding a new base within the Disney corporation, Star Wars is destined to endure and prosper for countless generations ahead. Disney's extensive reach and expertise empower Lucasfilm to explore innovative avenues across film, television, interactive platforms, theme parks, live performances, and merchandise.”
Guided by Disney, Lucasfilm delivered a fresh Star Wars trilogy that premiered from 2015 to 2019, numerous companion series, such as the Disney+ streaming hit The Mandalorian, and a recent Indiana Jones movie launched in 2023.
