Ben Affleck Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Ben Affleck’s Net Worth?

Ben Affleck, an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, has amassed a net worth of $150 million. His rise to international fame began with “Good Will Hunting,” which he co-wrote alongside his childhood friend Matt Damon. For “Good Will Hunting,” they won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, Affleck received an Academy Award for Best Picture for his film “Argo.” Throughout his career, he has accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars in earnings. Notably, one of his highest base salaries (excluding backend bonuses) came from the 2003 film “Paycheck,” for which he earned $15 million.

Major Paydays

Since early in his career, Ben Affleck has secured significant paychecks as a leading man. He and Matt Damon earned $300,000 for the sale of the “Good Will Hunting” screenplay. His role in “Reindeer Games” fetched him $6 million, whereas “Pearl Harbor” resulted in a $250,000 payout. Affleck received $10 million each for “Changing Lanes” and “The Sum of All Fears.” Although neither “Daredevil” nor “Gigli” achieved substantial box office success, they still paid him $11.5 million and $12.5 million, respectively.

Dunkin Donuts Super Bowl Salary

In 2023, Ben made headlines for his appearance in a Dunkin’ Donuts Super Bowl commercial. He was compensated with $10 million for the 30-second advertisement, which ultimately generated over 7 billion media impressions, resulting in the company’s highest single-day sales ever the day after the Super Bowl. Beyond starring in the commercial, Affleck was instrumental in its conceptualization, and the production was handled by Artists Equity, a 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 playwright career and took on various jobs, including those of electrician, janitor, carpenter, and bookie. When Ben was three, the family relocated to Falmouth, Massachusetts, where his younger brother Casey Affleck was born. Eventually, they settled in Cambridge, where his parents later divorced.

In Cambridge, Ben’s family actively participated in the arts. From a young age, he and his brother were exposed to theater performances and mingled with artists. His mother befriended a local casting agent who arranged auditions for both Affleck boys. Although she encouraged Ben to pursue acting, she preferred he find a more stable career, suggesting teaching instead.

At eight years old, Ben Affleck met Matt Damon, who is two years his senior. Their friendship blossomed quickly, leading to a lifelong bond. Together, they attended acting classes and eventually embarked on their Hollywood careers.

Early Career

Affleck’s professional acting career began at the age of seven with a local independent film. Between the ages of 8 and 15, he featured in the PBS children’s series “Voyage of the Mimi” and its sequel, working primarily in Cambridge and Mexico. He later appeared in the ABC after-school special “Wanted: A Perfect Man” and in a television movie.

At the ages of 14 and 15, respectively, Ben appeared in “Hands of a Stranger.”

Following his graduation from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in 1990, Ben took on minor roles in various films, including Daddy (1991), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), and School Ties (1992). Due to his larger physique, he was frequently cast as a bully or jock. 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.” Additionally, he landed a role as a high school bully in the iconic Richard Linklater film “Dazed and Confused.” He also featured in a supporting role 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. Eventually, after the two of them moved in together in Los Angeles, they collaborated to expand it into a full screenplay. Both were discontent with the minor supporting and background roles they had been offered previously, leading them to pursue a project where they could have significant creative input.

Affleck and Damon presented the completed script to their agent, who pitched it to multiple studios. In 1994, Castle Rock accepted it; however, they weren’t willing to grant Ben and Matt the creative control they sought. Subsequently, they took the screenplay to Miramax, where they were given a much larger degree of creative freedom.

Released in 1997, “Good Will Hunting” received widespread critical acclaim for both its screenplay and performances. As a result, Affleck and Damon became instant stars, quickly landing larger roles due to their impressive portrayals in the film.

Collaboration with Matt Damon

In 1998, the duo established Pearl Street Films as their production company. They later formed another company called LivePlanet, which found success with the documentary TV series “Project Greenlight.” This series aimed to provide aspiring filmmakers with an opportunity to direct their debut feature film. Presently, they co-own Artists Equity, an independent production company focused on distributing profits equitably among all stakeholders, with Affleck serving as CEO and intending to exclusively work as a filmmaker through this company.

Collaboration with Kevin Smith

Ben has collaborated numerous times with director Kevin Smith, a relationship that began in 1995 when he took on a supporting role in Smith’s film “Mallrats.” Following that, Smith created a leading role for Affleck in “Chasing Amy.” Since then, Ben has made appearances in every View Askewniverse project created by Smith.

Various films created 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 gaining fame from “Good Will Hunting,” Affleck found himself in a position to select larger and more prestigious roles. His early triumphs included “Armageddon,” where he portrayed a blue-collar worker sent into space to prevent an asteroid from colliding with Earth. The film became a colossal success at the box office, solidifying Ben’s reputation as a rising leading man.

Subsequently, other successful films followed, including “Shakespeare in Love,” “Pearl Harbor,” “The Sum of All Fears,” and “Changing Lanes.” However, not every film was a hit; several of Affleck’s projects failed to perform well at the box office. A notable flop was “Daredevil” (2003), which the actor later mentioned he regretted making.

Affleck assumed the role of Batman starting with 2016’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and is confirmed to make a cameo in 2023’s “The Flash.” He received acclaim for his portrayal of a recovering alcoholic in the 2020 sports drama “The Way Back,” which resonated personally with him. Ben experienced a relapse during the film’s pre-production in 2018, and the film was shot shortly after he completed rehab, with a sober coach accompanying him on set. Additionally, he took on the character of Phil Knight in the 2023 film “Air.”

Personal Life

Affleck has had romantic associations with several prominent figures in Hollywood. His high-profile relationship with singer Jennifer Lopez from 2002 to 2004 made them tabloid sensations. The media became obsessed with “Bennifer,” and paparazzi documented their every moment. Although both had previous media experiences, it was a new level of scrutiny for Ben. The couple got engaged in 2002 but postponed their planned wedding in 2003 due to overwhelming media attention, eventually separating the following year.

In 2005, Ben married Jennifer Garner; together they had three children. They revealed their separation in 2015, finalizing their divorce by late 2018.

Affleck first entered residential therapy for alcoholism in 2001. He made a return in 2017.

In 2018, he experienced a setback after maintaining sobriety for a year, yet he promised to stay on track with his recovery. He actively participates in a twelve-step program and continues to manage his anxiety and depression.

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

Directing

Early in his career, Ben developed an interest in directing and absorbed knowledge from the directors he collaborated with. In 2007, he made his directorial debut with “Gone Baby Gone.” Following that, he wrote, produced, and directed the film “The Town” (2010). He took on the roles of producer, director, and actor in “Argo” (2012), which achieved significant commercial and critical acclaim. In addition, Ben directed and produced the film “Air” in 2023, where he played Phil Knight, marking the initial release from Affleck and Damon’s production company, Artists Equity.

Awards and Honors

Ben Affleck has received Academy Awards for his work in “Good Will Hunting” (best original screenplay, in collaboration with Matt Damon) and “Argo” (best picture). He has also earned numerous BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards, primarily for these two films.

Charity and Philanthropy

Ben Affleck has endorsed various significant causes, including 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 purchased a property in LA’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood for $17.55 million, previously owned by producer Brian Grazer. Jennifer resided in this residence until late 2018, when Ben and Jen sold the mansion to Maroon 5’s Adam Levine for $32 million:

After three years of residence, Adam Levine and his wife, Behati Prinsloo, listed the property for $57.5 million. In that same month, Jennifer acquired a new home in the Brentwood Park area of Los Angeles for $8 million.

In April 2018, Ben purchased a Pacific Palisades mansion for $19 million. This 13,450-square-foot residence, constructed in 2017, features seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, complemented by a large lawn and pool area in the backyard. He listed the property for sale in August 2022 with an asking price of $29.995 million and sold it within two weeks at that exact price.

At the start of 2023, Affleck and Lopez withdrew from escrow on a $64 million Pacific Palisades mansion and were reported to have pulled back from a $34 million home styled after the Hamptons in the same area. A year earlier, they had made an offer for a $50 million Bel-Air mansion but later reconsidered. In June 2023, it was reported that the couple finalized the purchase of a $61 million mansion in Beverly Hills. Amidst speculations of a breakup in July 2024, Ben acquired a Palisades mansion for $20.5 million, financing it with a $10 million mortgage; this property is adjacent to Diane Keaton’s long-time estate.