George Lucas developing priciest condo in Chicago history

George Lucas is developing a blockbuster that’s poised to smash records, but not at the box office.

The billionaire Star Wars creator and his wife, Mellody Hobson, are combining two of their luxury condos in Streeterville’s Park Tower to form a 16,000-square-foot duplex penthouse, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Lucas and Hobson bought their 8,000-square-foot unit on the 66th floor for $11.2 million in January 2023, which marked the priciest condo sale of the year in Chicago. They paid $18.75 million for their 65th-floor unit in 2015.

The couple’s new condo will cost $33.5 million to assemble, including construction costs, making it the most expensive finished condo in Chicago history.

The total cost far surpasses Chicago’s second-priciest condo ever, a 10,000-square-foot duplex on the 71st floor of the Residences at the St. Regis Tower that Mexican billionaire German Larrea spent $20.56 million on.

Architect Scott Fortman from Gibbons, Fortman & Associates has been tasked with designing Lucas’ residence, which includes the integration of two new interior staircases and various electrical and mechanical enhancements on the 65th floor.

Lucas and Hobson’s real estate maneuvering extends beyond their upcoming Park Tower masterpiece. They’ve previously showcased their affinity for the building, with Hobson acquiring a 48th-floor unit in 2007, and the couple jointly purchasing a 26th-floor condo in 2012.

The 66th floor unit was acquired from billionaire Citadel founder Ken Griffin. It was unclear who the buyer was until now, as Lucas and Hobson used a Delaware-based LLC to purchase the condo, shielding their identities from public records, the outlet reported.

Lucas, with a net worth of $5.5 billion according to Forbes, and Hobson, the non-executive chair of Starbucks and co-CEO of Ariel Investments, have amassed an impressive portfolio across the globe, including residences in California, New York City, Italy and France. Among them is the iconic Skywalker Ranch near Nicasio, California that Lucas began assembling in 1978.

—Quinn Donoghue