The unlikely merger of Hollywood and the money management industry appears to be on its way to completion, as Mellody Hobson, president of Chicago-based Ariel Investments LLC, has become formally engaged to longtime boyfriend George Lucas.
An Ariel spokeswoman confirmed the engagement.
Both have been active recently in championing education, Mr. Lucas with his George Lucas Educational Foundation promoting digital literacy and Ms. Hobson with the Ariel Community Academy, teaching financial literacy in schools.
Ms. Hobson, also chairman of the board of trustees for Ariel Investment Trust and chairman of the board of DreamWorks Animation LLC, has been president of the small-cap money manager since 2000.
Mr. Lucas is the co-chairman of Lucasfilm Ltd., which he formed in 1971, and wrote and produced the two “Star Wars” trilogies.
