George Lucas sold Lucasfilm (and by extension, the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises) to The Walt Disney Company in 2012 for approximately $4.05 billion primarily for two reasons: retirement and legacy. At the age of 68, Lucas wanted to step away from the immense pressure and "stress" of managing a global multi-media empire and the constant scrutiny of a vocal fanbase. He expressed a desire to return to making small, experimental "hobby" films that didn't require a mass audience. Furthermore, Lucas wanted to ensure that Star Wars would "live on" for future generations with a company that had the vast resources and institutional stability to protect and expand the universe. He famously compared the sale to "passing the torch" to a new generation of filmmakers. It is also significant that Lucas did not keep the money for personal gain; he donated the vast majority of the proceeds from the sale to his Edutopia foundation to support educational improvements. By selling to Disney, he ensured the franchise would be supported by the world’s most powerful marketing and theme park infrastructure, guaranteeing its presence in pop culture for decades to come.