Meet Mellody Hobson, the influential wife of George Lucas: The Princeton grad sits on the Starbucks board, advocates for friends Alicia Keys and Lewis Hamilton, and has a child with the Star Wars director

On May 25, Lucas received an honorary Palme d’Or at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The award was presented by legendary filmmaker and lifelong friend of Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola. According to People magazine, Lucas said of the award that “it’s always great to be recognized.”

Joining him on the event’s red carpet was his wife of 11 years, Mellody Hobson. So what do we know about her?

What is Mellody Hobson’s background?

In 1991, Hobson graduated from Princeton University’s former Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations and Public Policy. Twenty-eight years later, she received the university’s highest honor, the Woodrow Wilson Prize, given annually to a Princeton graduate whose career embodies a commitment to national service. In October 2020, Hobson donated money to build Hobson College at her alma mater, the first boarding school named after a Black woman, according to Forbes.

According to the Ariel Investments website, the Princeton graduate also received honorary doctorates from Howard University, Johns Hopkins University, St. Mary’s College and the University of Southern California. In 2015, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world and in 2020, she ranked 94th on Forbes’ list of the world’s most influential women.

What does Mellody Hobson do for a living?

After graduating from Princeton in 1991, Hobson accepted a position with Chicago-based financial management firm Ariel Investments – and remains there today as president and co-CEO, helping to grow its assets to approximately US$15 billion by 2024, according to Investopedia. Outside of his work at the investment firm, Hobson serves on the boards of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sundance Institute and Starbucks.

She is also the former president of DreamWorks Animation and has even hosted shows on Good Morning America and CBS News.

She has published a book, is a famous TED speaker – and gives a Masterclass

Originally from Chicago, she devotes much of her time to promoting financial literacy, diversity and equality. His 2014 TED talk video “Color Blind or Color Brave? » reached nearly 5 million views. She also published the book Priceless Facts About Moneywhich will hit the shelves on October 1st of this year.

Despite its countless roles and achievements, the powerhouse still had time to publish a Masterclass on Strategic Decision Making in 2023.

How did George Lucas meet his wife, Mellody Hobson?

How many children do George Lucas and Mellody Hobson have?

According to People magazine, two months after their marriage, Hobson and Lucas welcomed a daughter, Everest Hobson Lucas, born via surrogate on August 9. Everest is Hobson’s only child, while Lucas has three older adopted children – Amanda, Katie and Jett.

She has countless famous friends

The 55-year-old shows no signs of slowing down either. In June 2022, Hobson became one of the first Black women to own part of the NFL team, the Denver Broncos, joining former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, according to the New York Times.