Ben Affleck Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Ben Affleck’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $150 million, Ben Affleck is recognized as an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He gained international fame for “Good Will Hunting,” a film he co-wrote alongside his childhood friend Matt Damon, which ultimately won them an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, Ben secured an Academy Award for Best Picture for his work on “Argo.” Over the years, Ben has amassed earnings in the hundreds of millions from his acting career. Notably, one of his largest upfront salaries occurred with the 2003 film “Paycheck,” where he earned $15 million before any backend bonuses.

Major Paydays

Ben Affleck, a leading man in Hollywood, has been earning substantial paychecks since the beginning of his career. For selling the screenplay of “Good Will Hunting,” both he and Matt Damon received a sum of $300,000. In “Reindeer Games,” he earned $6 million, while “Pearl Harbor” provided him with a notably smaller payday of $250,000. Each of “Changing Lanes” and “The Sum of All Fears” brought him $10 million. Even though “Daredevil” and “Gigli” did not achieve great success, they still resulted in earnings of $11.5 million and $12.5 million, respectively, for Affleck.

Dunkin Donuts Super Bowl Salary

In 2023, Ben made headlines with his appearance in a Dunkin’ Donuts Super Bowl commercial, for which he received $10 million for just a 30-second spot. This commercial garnered over 7 billion media impressions, contributing to the highest single-day sales in company history following the Super Bowl. Affleck’s contributions extended beyond acting, as he played a significant role in the development of the concept and the production, which was handled by Artists Equity, the production company he co-founded with Matt Damon.

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 pursued a career as a playwright alongside various jobs such as electrician, janitor, carpenter, and bookie. When Ben was three, the family relocated to Falmouth, Massachusetts, where his younger brother, Casey Affleck, was born. They later established their permanent residence in Cambridge, where their parents ultimately divorced.

In Cambridge, Ben’s family was deeply engaged in the arts. Both he and his brother frequently attended theater performances and mingled with people from the artistic community. A local casting agent, a friend of his mother, facilitated auditions for both boys. Though she supported Ben’s interest in acting, she never pressured him to pursue it as a career, favoring a path toward teaching instead.

At just eight years old, Ben Affleck met Matt Damon, who was two years his senior. The connection was instant, leading to a lifelong friendship. They participated in acting classes together and eventually embarked on their Hollywood journeys as partners.

Early Career

At the age of seven, Affleck landed his first professional acting role in a local independent film. From ages 8 to 15, he featured in the PBS children’s series “Voyage of the Mimi” and its sequel “Second Voyage of the Mimi,” working in both Cambridge and Mexico. Following this, he appeared in the ABC after-school special “Wanted: A Perfect Man” along with a television movie.

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“Hands of a Stranger” at ages 14 and 15, respectively.

In 1990, following his graduation from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Ben secured minor roles in multiple films such as Daddy (1991), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), and School Ties (1992). Due to his large stature, he frequently found himself cast as a jock or bully. He played a football player in both the NBC series “Against the Grain” and the HBO drama “Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story.” Notably, Ben landed a role as a high school bully in Richard Linklater’s iconic film “Dazed and Confused.” Additionally, he had a supporting part in the 1995 drama “School Ties.”

Good Will Hunting

The film that truly propelled Affleck’s career was “Good Will Hunting,” which he co-wrote and starred in alongside his close friend Matt Damon. The original script started as a 40-page assignment for Damon’s playwriting class at Harvard University. Later, while living together in Los Angeles, the duo expanded it into a full screenplay. Frustrated with the limited supporting and background roles they had been offered, they sought to work on a project where they could exercise greater creative control.

Affleck and Damon presented the completed script to their agent, who then pitched it to several studios. In 1994, Castle Rock expressed interest but was unwilling to grant the creative autonomy that Ben and Matt desired. Consequently, they took the screenplay to Miramax, where they were afforded much more creative freedom.

Released in 1997, “Good Will Hunting” received widespread critical acclaim for both its screenplay and performances. As a result of their exceptional work in the film, Affleck and Damon quickly rose to fame, landing larger roles in subsequent projects.

Collaboration with Matt Damon

Ben and Matt, who have been friends since childhood, were determined to become actors, collaborating to reach that ambition. At the outset of their careers, they maintained a joint bank account into which they deposited earnings from their acting gigs, using the funds for transportation to auditions, whether by train or plane.

In 1998, the duo established a production company named Pearl Street Films. They later created another production entity called LivePlanet, which gained recognition through the documentary series “Project Greenlight.” This series aimed to provide emerging filmmakers with a chance to direct their first feature film. Today, they co-own Artists Equity, their independent production company focused on sharing profits among all contributors, with Affleck acting as CEO and planning to film exclusively for the company.

Collaboration with Kevin Smith

Ben Affleck has collaborated frequently with director Kevin Smith. Their professional and personal relationship began in 1995 when Affleck took on a supporting role in Smith’s film “Mallrats.” Smith later crafted a leading role for Affleck in his subsequent film, “Chasing Amy.” Since then, Ben has appeared in every View Askewniverse film.

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

A Rising Star

After achieving success with “Good Will Hunting,” Affleck was presented with opportunities for larger and more prominent roles. His participation in “Armageddon,” where he portrayed a working-class individual tasked with a mission in space to prevent an asteroid from striking Earth, marked one of his initial major triumphs. The film became a massive hit and solidified Ben’s reputation as an emerging leading actor.

A series of other successful films followed, including “Shakespeare in Love,” “Pearl Harbor,” “The Sum of All Fears,” and “Changing Lanes.” Not all were hugely successful, as some of Affleck’s films underperformed at the box office. A particular disappointment for him was the 2003 film “Daredevil,” which he later expressed regret over making.

Affleck took on the iconic role of Batman starting with “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” in 2016 and is expected to return in a cameo role in 2023’s “The Flash.” He received significant acclaim for his portrayal of a recovering alcoholic in the sports drama “The Way Back” released in 2020, a story that resonated personally with him, as he had relapsed during the film’s pre-production in 2018. The production took place shortly after he completed rehabilitation, with a sober coach accompanying him on set. In 2023, Affleck portrayed Phil Knight in the film “Air.”

Personal Life

Affleck has had romantic relationships with several prominent figures in Hollywood. Notably, he was in a relationship with singer Jennifer Lopez from 2002 to 2004, quickly becoming a favorite subject for tabloids. The media was relentless in covering “Bennifer,” following the couple closely. Although both Ben and Jennifer had previously been in the public eye, Affleck was not accustomed to such intense media scrutiny. They became engaged in 2002, but their planned wedding in 2003 was postponed due to overwhelming media attention, leading to their breakup the following year.

In 2005, Ben married Jennifer Garner, and together they had three children. The couple announced their separation in 2015, ultimately finalizing their divorce by late 2018.

Affleck sought residential therapy for alcoholism in 2001 and returned for treatment in 2017.

In 2018, he again faced challenges. Following a year of maintained sobriety in 2019, he experienced a public slip-up, yet he made a commitment to not allow it to hinder his progress. He adheres to a twelve-step program while continuing to address his anxiety and depression.

In July 2022, Ben and Jennifer Lopez exchanged vows in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, she filed for divorce in August 2024.

Directing

Ben’s fascination with directing began early in his career, and he absorbed knowledge from the directors he collaborated with. His directorial debut came in 2007 with the film “Gone Baby Gone.” Following that, he wrote, produced, and directed “The Town” in 2010. The film “Argo,” released in 2012, saw him produce, direct, and star, gaining immense commercial and critical praise. In 2023, Ben not only portrayed Phil Knight in “Air” but also directed and produced it, marking the release of Affleck and Damon’s production company, Artists Equity.

Awards and Honors

Ben Affleck has received Academy Awards for “Good Will Hunting” (best original screenplay, shared with Matt Damon) and “Argo” (best picture). Additionally, he has won numerous awards from BAFTA, Golden Globe, and the Screen Actors Guild, primarily for these two films.

Charity and Philanthropy

Throughout his career, Ben Affleck has actively supported several significant 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, Ben and Jen acquired a property in LA’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood for $17.55 million from producer Brian Grazer. Jennifer resided there until late 2018, at which point Ben and Jen sold the mansion to Maroon 5’s Adam Levine for $32 million:

After three years, Adam Levine and his wife, Behati Prinsloo, listed the home for $57.5 million. That same month, Jennifer invested $8 million in a new residence located in Brentwood Park, Los Angeles.

In April 2018, Ben purchased a $19 million mansion in Pacific Palisades. This 13,450 square-foot residence, established in 2017, boasts seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms alongside a spacious backyard lawn and pool. He listed this property for sale in August 2022, asking for $29.995 million, and sold it within two weeks at the exact price.

In early 2023, Affleck and Lopez withdrew from escrow on a $64 million mansion in Pacific Palisades and reportedly backed out of a $34 million Hamptons-style property in the same area. A year earlier, they had considered an offer on a $50 million expanse in Bel-Air before opting against it. By June 2023, reports indicated that the couple finalized the purchase of a $61 million mansion in Beverly Hills. Amidst separation rumors in July 2024, Ben secured a Palisades mansion for $20.5 million, taking out a $10 million mortgage for the acquisition, situated next to Diane Keaton’s long-time estate.