George Lucas
Traded most of his directing fee for the merchandising rights the studio considered worthless.
- Born
- 1944 · Modesto, California, US
- Roots
- White American
- Family
- Middle class
- His father ran a stationery store and a walnut ranch and expected him to take over.
- Education
- Modesto Junior College → USC film school
- Started with
- A survived crash
- A near-fatal accident days before high-school graduation ended his racing ambitions; film school followed.
- Affiliations & societies
- None documented.
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 1962 · age 18The crash
His seatbelt fails and throws him clear; he gives up racing and enrolls in junior college.
- 1971 · age 27THX 1138 flops
The studio recut of his debut sours him on Hollywood control.
- 1973 · age 29American Graffiti$775K budget
Made for $775K; one of the most profitable films ever released to that point.
- 1976 · age 31The merchandising trade
Forgoes most of a directing-fee raise on Star Wars in exchange for merchandising and sequel rights the studio valued at nearly nothing.
- 1977 · age 33Star Wars
The rights he kept build an empire of toys, sequels, and Industrial Light & Magic.
- 2012 · age 68Sells Lucasfilm to Disney$4.05B
He pledges the bulk to education philanthropy.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.