Ben Affleck Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Ben Affleck’s Net Worth?

Ben Affleck, an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director, boasts a net worth of $150 million. He rose to international fame through “Good Will Hunting,” a film he co-wrote with childhood friend Matt Damon, for which they won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, Ben secured a Best Picture Academy Award for “Argo.” Throughout his career, he has amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in salary. Notably, one of his highest base salary acting payments (not including backend bonuses) came from the 2003 film “Paycheck,” for which he earned $15 million.

Major Paydays

From the early stages of his career, Ben Affleck has commanded substantial paychecks as a leading man. For selling the “Good Will Hunting” screenplay, he and Matt Damon earned $300,000 each. His role in “Reindeer Games” brought in $6 million, while “Pearl Harbor” yielded a $250,000 payday. Both “Changing Lanes” and “The Sum of All Fears” netted him a cool $10 million each. Despite the lack of success for “Daredevil” and “Gigli,” Affleck received $11.5 million and $12.5 million, respectively.

Dunkin Donuts Super Bowl Salary

In 2023, Ben made headlines by featuring in a Super Bowl commercial for Dunkin’ Donuts. He was compensated with $10 million for the 30-second advertisement, which garnered over 7 billion media impressions and resulted in the highest single-day sales in history for the company the day following the Super Bowl. Not only did Affleck star in the commercial, but he was also instrumental in conceptualizing it, with the production company he co-owns with Matt Damon, Artists Equity, directing and producing the ad.

Early Life

Born on August 15, 1972, in Berkeley, California, Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt is the son of Chris and Tim Affleck. His mother was a schoolteacher, while his father attempted to be a playwright, working 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. Eventually, they made permanent residence in Cambridge, where his parents later separated.

The arts played a significant role in Ben’s family life in Cambridge. From a young age, both he and his brother attended theater productions and mingled with creatives. Ben’s mother was acquainted with a local casting agent who facilitated auditions for the Affleck siblings. While she encouraged Ben’s acting pursuits, she never forced him towards a career in acting, aspiring instead for him to become a teacher.

At eight years old, Ben Affleck met Matt Damon, who was two years his senior. The two quickly formed a strong bond, evolving into lifelong friends as they took acting lessons together, which would later lead them to launch their careers in Hollywood side by side.

Early Career

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

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

Upon graduating from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in 1990, Ben took on small roles in various films, such as Daddy (1991), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), and School Ties (1992). Due to his considerable size, he frequently found himself cast as a bully or jock. Notably, 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.” He then landed a role as a high school bully in the iconic Richard Linklater film “Dazed and Confused” and also appeared in a supporting capacity in the 1995 drama “School Ties.”

Good Will Hunting

The movie that truly propelled Affleck’s career was “Good Will Hunting,” which he co-wrote and starred in alongside his close friend Matt Damon. Initially starting as a 40-page assignment for Damon’s playwriting class at Harvard University, the script was later expanded into a full screenplay when the two were living together in Los Angeles. Frustrated with the limited supporting and background roles they had received up until that time, they aimed to create a project where they could exercise more creative control.

After completing the script, Affleck and Damon presented it to their agent, who approached several studios on their behalf. Castle Rock accepted the screenplay in 1994 but was reluctant to grant Ben and Matt the creative freedom they sought. They subsequently took the screenplay to Miramax, where they were afforded a greater degree of artistic control.

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

Collaboration with Matt Damon

Since childhood, Ben and Matt have shared aspirations of becoming actors, working together to turn that dream into reality. Early in their careers, they maintained a joint bank account where all earnings from their acting work were deposited. This fund was used to purchase train or plane tickets necessary for auditions.

In 1998, the duo established Pearl Street Films, followed by another production company named LivePlanet. Notably, LivePlanet’s biggest success was the documentary TV series “Project Greenlight,” which aimed to provide emerging filmmakers with the opportunity to direct their first feature film. Currently, they co-own Artists Equity, an independent production company dedicated to equitable profit-sharing among all contributors. Affleck functions as the CEO and intends to focus exclusively on his filmmaking endeavors with the company.

Collaboration with Kevin Smith

Ben Affleck has collaborated with director Kevin Smith on multiple occasions. Their friendship and professional relationship took off in 1995 when Ben secured a supporting role in Smith’s film “Mallrats.” Following that, Smith crafted a leading role specifically for Affleck in his subsequent film, “Chasing Amy.” Since then, Ben has appeared in every View Askewniverse film.

Films that Kevin Smith has made include “Dogma,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” “Clerks II,” and “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.”

A Rising Star

With the success of “Good Will Hunting,” Affleck was in a position to select larger and more prestigious roles. One of his early major successes was “Armageddon,” where he portrayed a working-class individual chosen to travel into space in an effort to prevent an asteroid from colliding with Earth. The film achieved massive success at the box office and solidified Ben’s reputation as a rising leading actor.

Subsequent hits included “Shakespeare in Love,” “Pearl Harbor,” “The Sum of All Fears,” and “Changing Lanes.” However, not every film was a success; several of Affleck’s projects did poorly at the box office. A notable disappointment was “Daredevil” (2003), a movie he later expressed regret over making.

In 2016, Affleck assumed the role of Batman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and is expected to return for a cameo in 2023’s “The Flash.” His portrayal of a recovering alcoholic in the 2020 sports drama “The Way Back” received widespread acclaim, resonating personally for him. During the movie’s pre-production in 2018, Ben experienced a relapse; filming occurred shortly after he completed rehabilitation. A sober coach accompanied him on set. Additionally, he portrayed Phil Knight in the 2023 film “Air.”

Personal Life

Throughout his life, Affleck has been associated with several prominent figures in Hollywood romantically. His high-profile relationship with singer Jennifer Lopez from 2002 to 2004 captured tabloid headlines, making “Bennifer” a media sensation as paparazzi followed their every move. Though both had previously been in the tabloids, the level of scrutiny was new for Affleck. The couple got engaged in 2002 but postponed their 2003 wedding due to overwhelming media coverage, ultimately splitting in the following year.

In 2005, Ben married Jennifer Garner, and together they had three children. They announced their separation in 2015, with their divorce being finalized in late 2018.

Affleck sought residential therapy for alcoholism in 2001, returning for treatment again in 2017.

In 2018, he experienced a public slip-up after a year of sobriety in 2019 but pledged not to allow it to disrupt his progress. He adheres to a twelve-step program while continuing to manage his anxiety and depression.

Ben and Jennifer Lopez wed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in July 2022. In August 2024, she initiated divorce proceedings.

Directing

Ben’s interest in directing sparked early in his career as he absorbed knowledge from the directors he collaborated with. He made his directorial debut with the film “Gone Baby Gone” in 2007. Following that, he wrote, produced, and directed “The Town” (2010). In “Argo” (2012), which he produced, directed, and starred in, he achieved significant commercial and critical acclaim. Additionally, in 2023, while portraying Phil Knight in “Air,” Ben both directed and produced the film, marking the initial release from his and Damon’s production company, Artists Equity.

Awards and Honors

For his work on “Good Will Hunting” (best original screenplay, co-written with Matt Damon) and “Argo” (best picture), Affleck has received Academy Awards. His accolades also include several BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards, primarily related to those two films.

Charity and Philanthropy

Ben Affleck has championed numerous 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, Jen and Ben made a $17.55 million purchase of a home in LA’s Pacific Palisades, previously owned by producer Brian Grazer. Jennifer occupied the residence until late 2018 when Ben and Jen sold the mansion to Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine for $32 million:

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

In April 2018, Ben acquired a $19 million mansion in the Pacific Palisades, a 13,450 square-foot home completed in 2017, featuring seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms along with an expansive backyard lawn and pool area. In August 2022, he listed this property for sale at $29.995 million and successfully sold it within two weeks for that exact amount.

Early in 2023, Affleck and Lopez exited escrow on a $64 million Pacific Palisades mansion and reportedly backed out of purchasing a $34 million Hamptons-style residence in the same area. The previous year, they were said to have made an offer on a $50 million Bel-Air mansion but decided against it. In June 2023, reports indicated that the couple finalized a $61 million purchase of a mansion in Beverly Hills. Amidst separation rumors in July 2024, Ben acquired a $20.5 million Palisades mansion, financing it with a $10 million mortgage; this home is adjacent to Diane Keaton’s long-established estate.