Ben Affleck Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Ben Affleck’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $150 million, Ben Affleck is an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. His international fame began with “Good Will Hunting,” a film he co-wrote alongside childhood friend Matt Damon, for which they won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, Ben clinched a Best Picture Academy Award for “Argo.” Throughout his career, he has raked in hundreds of millions of dollars in salaries, including one of his highest base salaries of $15 million for the 2003 film “Paycheck,” excluding backend bonuses.

Major Paydays

Since the beginning of his career, Ben Affleck has secured substantial paychecks as a leading actor. Both he and Matt Damon earned $300,000 for selling the screenplay of “Good Will Hunting.” For “Reindeer Games,” he received $6 million, but “Pearl Harbor” only yielded a $250,000 payday. He commanded $10 million for both “Changing Lanes” and “The Sum of All Fears.” Despite their lack of commercial success, “Daredevil” and “Gigli” brought in $11.5 million and $12.5 million respectively.

Dunkin Donuts Super Bowl Salary

In a notable Super Bowl commercial for Dunkin’ Donuts in 2023, Ben was compensated $10 million for the 30-second advertisement, which garnered over 7 billion media impressions and generated the highest single-day sales for the company right after the Super Bowl. Not only did Affleck star in the commercial, but he also contributed to the concept, with his production company, Artists Equity, co-run with Matt Damon, handling the production and direction.

Early Life

Born on August 15, 1972, in Berkeley, California, Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt is the son of Chris and Tim Affleck. His mother worked as a schoolteacher, while his father was a playwright struggling to make a living through various jobs, including being a carpenter, janitor, electrician, and bookie. When Ben was three, the family relocated to Falmouth, Massachusetts, where his younger brother, Casey Affleck, was born, and eventually settled permanently in Cambridge, leading to his parents’ divorce.

In Cambridge, Ben’s family was deeply engaged in the arts. From an early age, both he and his brother attended theater performances and interacted with individuals involved in the arts community. His mother, who was acquainted with a local casting agent, arranged auditions for her sons. Although she encouraged Ben’s interest in acting, she never pressured him to pursue it as a career and preferred he become a teacher.

At the age of eight, Ben met Matt Damon, who was two years his senior. They quickly became close friends, taking acting classes together and subsequently launching their careers in Hollywood as a team.

Early Career

At the age of seven, Affleck landed his first professional acting role in a local independent film. Between the ages of 8 and 15, he starred in PBS children’s series “Voyage of the Mimi” and its sequel, “Second Voyage of the Mimi,” working both in Cambridge and Mexico. He then appeared in the ABC special “Wanted: A Perfect Man” as well as the television movie…

“Hands of a Stranger” as a teenager, specifically at ages 14 and 15.

Following his graduation from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in 1990, Ben took on minor roles in various films, such as Daddy (1991), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), and School Ties (1992). His imposing stature often led to him being cast as a bully or a jock. He portrayed a football player in both the NBC series “Against the Grain” and the HBO drama “Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story.” Ben subsequently landed a role as a high school bully in the iconic Richard Linklater film “Dazed and Confused” and also played a supporting character in the 1995 drama “School Ties.”

Good Will Hunting

The film that truly propelled Affleck’s career was “Good Will Hunting,” a project he co-wrote and starred in alongside his close friend Matt Damon. Originally, the script started as a 40-page assignment for Damon’s playwriting course at Harvard University. Later, while living together in Los Angeles, they collaborated to expand it into a full screenplay. Frustrated by the limited supporting roles they had previously received, they aimed to create a project that allowed them to take charge of the creative process.

After completing the script, Affleck and Damon shared it with their agent, who pitched it to various studios. In 1994, Castle Rock agreed to it but refused to grant Ben and Matt the creative freedom they desired. Subsequently, they approached Miramax, which allowed them significantly more creative control.

Released in 1997, “Good Will Hunting” garnered widespread critical acclaim for both its screenplay and performances. Thanks to their impressive acting in the film, Affleck and Damon quickly became stars, securing larger roles in subsequent projects.

Collaboration with Matt Damon

From a young age, childhood friends Ben and Matt were determined to pursue acting, which led them to work together towards that ambition. During their early days in the industry, they maintained a joint bank account to pool the earnings from their acting jobs, using the funds to cover train or plane fares for auditions.

In 1998, the duo launched their production company, Pearl Street Films, and later established another venture called LivePlanet. One of LivePlanet’s most significant achievements was the documentary series “Project Greenlight,” which aimed to give aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to direct their first feature film. Currently, they co-own Artists Equity, an independent production company designed to equitably share profits with all stakeholders. Affleck serves as the CEO and intends to focus solely on projects within the company as a filmmaker.

Collaboration with Kevin Smith

Ben Affleck has collaborated numerous times with director Kevin Smith. Their friendship and professional relationship began in 1995, when Ben played a supporting role in Smith’s film “Mallrats.” Following that, Smith crafted a leading role for Affleck in his next project, “Chasing Amy.” Since then, Ben has appeared in every film within the View Askewniverse.

Films directed by Kevin Smith include “Dogma,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” “Clerks II,” and “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.”

A Rising Star

After “Good Will Hunting” achieved great success, Affleck found himself in a position to select more prominent and exciting roles. One of his early major successes was with “Armageddon,” where he portrayed a working-class man tasked with preventing an asteroid from colliding with Earth. The film performed exceptionally well at the box office, solidifying Ben’s reputation as a rising star.

A string of successful films followed, including “Shakespeare in Love,” “Pearl Harbor,” “The Sum of All Fears,” and “Changing Lanes.” However, not every project was a success; some of Affleck’s films did poorly commercially. Among these failures was “Daredevil” (2003), which Affleck later expressed regret over making.

In 2016, Affleck took on the role of Batman, beginning with “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” and he is set to reprise the role in a cameo for 2023’s “The Flash.” His performance as a recovering alcoholic in the 2020 sports drama “The Way Back” received widespread acclaim, which resonated personally as he relapsed during the film’s pre-production in 2018, with filming occurring shortly after his rehab stint. On set, he was supported by a sober coach. Additionally, in 2023’s “Air,” Affleck portrayed Phil Knight.

Personal Life

Affleck has had romantic relationships with several prominent figures in Hollywood. His highly publicized romance with singer Jennifer Lopez from 2002 to 2004 made him a favorite in tabloid media. The fascination with “Bennifer” led to relentless coverage and paparazzi vigilance over their relationship. Although both had previously faced media attention, Ben was less accustomed to such intense scrutiny. The couple got engaged in 2002, but they postponed their 2003 wedding due to overwhelming media focus, eventually separating the following year.

In 2005, Ben married Jennifer Garner, with whom he welcomed three children. They announced their separation in 2015 and finalized their divorce in late 2018.

In 2001, Ben sought residential treatment for alcoholism, and he returned for further treatment in 2017.

and again in 2018. After a year of sobriety, a public slip-up occurred for him in 2019, but he committed himself to not allow it to impede his progress. He adheres to a twelve-step program while continuing to manage his anxiety and depression.

In Las Vegas, Nevada, Ben and Jennifer Lopez tied the knot in July 2022. However, she initiated divorce proceedings in August 2024.

Directing

Ben developed an interest in directing early on in his career, absorbing knowledge from the directors he collaborated with. His first film as a director, “Gone Baby Gone,” was released in 2007. Following this, he wrote, produced, and directed “The Town” in 2010. In 2012, he produced, directed, and starred in “Argo,” which emerged as both a critical and commercial triumph. In 2023, besides playing Phil Knight in “Air,” Ben also directed and produced the film, marking the inaugural release from his and Damon’s production company, Artists Equity.

Awards and Honors

Academy Awards have been awarded to Affleck for “Good Will Hunting” (shared best original screenplay with Matt Damon) and for “Argo” (best picture). He has earned multiple BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards, predominantly for these two films.

Charity and Philanthropy

Throughout his career, Ben Affleck has supported numerous admirable causes, such as the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Eastern Congo Initiative, the A-T Children’s Project, and Feeding America.

Real Estate

In 2009, Jen and Ben invested $17.55 million in a residence located in LA’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood, previously owned by producer Brian Grazer. Jennifer resided in this house until late 2018, after which Ben and Jen sold the mansion to Adam Levine of Maroon 5 for $32 million:

Following three years in that home, Adam Levine and his spouse, Behati Prinsloo, put it on the market for $57.5 million. During that same timeframe, Jennifer purchased a new residence in Los Angeles’ Brentwood Park neighborhood for $8 million.

In April 2018, Ben acquired a mansion in the Pacific Palisades for $19 million. This 13,450 square-foot residence, constructed in 2017, showcases seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a vast lawn, and a pool area in the backyard. In August 2022, he listed this property for sale at $29.995 million and sold it within two weeks at the asking price.

At the beginning of 2023, Affleck and Lopez withdrew from escrow on a $64 million mansion in Pacific Palisades and were said to have backed out of a $34 million Hamptons-style home in the same locale. The year before, they had reportedly submitted an offer for a $50 million mansion in Bel-Air but later retracted it. By June 2023, reports indicated that the couple finalized a purchase of a $61 million mansion in Beverly Hills. Amid speculation about their separation in July 2024, Ben acquired a Palisades mansion for $20.5 million, financing it with a $10 million mortgage, situated next to Diane Keaton’s longstanding estate.