Ben Affleck Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Ben Affleck’s Net Worth?

An American actor, producer, director, and screenwriter, Ben Affleck boasts a net worth of $150 million. His international fame skyrocketed 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. Furthermore, Affleck received a Best Picture Academy Award for “Argo.” Over his extensive career, Ben has accumulated hundreds of millions in earnings from his salary. Notably, one of his highest base salary paychecks (excluding backend bonuses) was $15 million from the 2003 film “Paycheck.”

Major Paydays

Throughout his early career, Ben Affleck has consistently secured substantial paychecks as a leading man. He and Matt Damon earned $300,000 for selling the screenplay of “Good Will Hunting.” The film “Reindeer Games” netted him $6 million, whereas “Pearl Harbor” resulted in a $250,000 payday. For both “Changing Lanes” and “The Sum of All Fears,” he took home $10 million each. Even though “Daredevil” and “Gigli” were not especially successful, Affleck garnered $11.5 million and $12.5 million from those films, respectively.

Dunkin Donuts Super Bowl Salary

In 2023, Ben made a notable appearance in a Super Bowl ad for Dunkin’ Donuts, earning $10 million for a 30-second spot that garnered over 7 billion media impressions. This resulted in the company’s highest single-day sales ever recorded the day following the Super Bowl. Beyond just appearing in the commercial, Affleck played a role in its conceptualization, as his production company, Artists Equity—co-founded with Matt Damon—produced and directed 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 aspired to be a playwright, earning a living through various jobs like electrician, janitor, carpenter, and bookie. When Ben was three, the family relocated to Falmouth, Massachusetts, where his younger brother, Casey Affleck, was born. They eventually settled in Cambridge, where his parents would later divorce.

In Cambridge, where his family had a strong involvement in the arts, Ben and his brother became frequent attendees at theater performances from a young age and interacted with individuals working in the arts scene. Although his mother, friends with a local casting agent who set up auditions for both boys, encouraged Ben to act, she never pressured him into pursuing it as a career; rather, she hoped he would become a teacher.

At eight years old, Ben Affleck crossed paths with Matt Damon, who was two years his senior. The connection was instant, and the two forged a lifelong friendship. Together, they took acting classes and eventually embarked on their Hollywood careers.

Early Career

Ben’s first professional acting opportunity came at the age of seven in a local independent film. Between the ages of 8 and 15, he starred in PBS children’s series “Voyage of the Mimi” and “Second Voyage of the Mimi,” performing both in Cambridge and Mexico. He subsequently appeared in the ABC after-school special “Wanted: A Perfect Man” and a television movie.

“Hands of a Stranger” when they were aged 14 and 15, respectively.

After completing his studies at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in 1990, Ben landed minor roles in several films such as Daddy (1991), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), and School Ties (1992). His significant stature often led to him being 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.” Subsequently, Ben secured a role as a high school bully in the iconic Richard Linklater 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,” in which he co-wrote and acted alongside close friend Matt Damon. This screenplay originated from a 40-page assignment for Damon’s playwriting class at Harvard University. Later, while living together in Los Angeles, they collaborated to expand it into a full screenplay. Both were discontent with the limited supporting and background roles they had previously received and aimed to undertake a project that offered them the autonomy to make significant decisions.

Affleck and Damon presented the completed script to their agent, who approached various studios on their behalf. Castle Rock accepted it in 1994 but was unwilling to grant Ben and Matt the creative control they desired. They then took the screenplay to Miramax, where they were afforded greater creative freedom.

Released in 1997, “Good Will Hunting” received widespread critical acclaim for both its screenplay and performances. Overnight, Affleck and Damon rose to fame and soon found themselves cast in more prominent roles due to their exceptional performances in the film.

Collaboration with Matt Damon

Ben and Matt, childhood friends, realized early on that they wanted to pursue acting, which led them to collaborate towards that aspiration. As they began their careers in the industry, they shared a bank account that contained all their earnings from acting jobs, using the funds for transportation—whether by train or plane—to auditions.

In 1998, they established a production company called Pearl Street Films. This was later followed by the creation of another company named LivePlanet, with its standout achievement being the documentary TV series “Project Greenlight.” This series aimed to give emerging filmmakers the opportunity to direct their first feature film. Currently, the duo co-owns Artists Equity, an independent production company focused on profit-sharing with all contributors. Affleck serves as CEO and intends to work exclusively with this company in his filmmaking endeavors.

Collaboration with Kevin Smith

Affleck has collaborated repeatedly with director Kevin Smith. Their friendship and professional connection began in 1995 when Ben played a supporting role in Smith’s film “Mallrats.” Smith subsequently wrote a lead role for Affleck in his next project, “Chasing Amy.” From that point onward, Ben has appeared in every View Askewniverse film.

Kevin Smith created films such as “Dogma,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” “Clerks II,” and “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.”

A Rising Star

After the acclaim of “Good Will Hunting,” Affleck was presented with opportunities for larger and more significant roles. A major early success for him was “Armageddon,” where he portrayed a working-class individual tasked with going to space to prevent an asteroid from colliding with Earth. This film was a tremendous box office success, solidifying Ben’s position as a promising leading actor.

Further successful projects followed, including “Shakespeare in Love,” “Pearl Harbor,” “The Sum of All Fears,” and “Changing Lanes.” However, not all were successes; a number of Affleck’s films did poorly commercially. A notable flop was “Daredevil” (2003), which the actor later expressed he regretted making.

Beginning with 2016’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” Affleck took on the iconic role of Batman, with plans to make a cameo in 2023’s “The Flash.” His portrayal of a recovering alcoholic in the 2020 sports drama “The Way Back” received widespread acclaim, striking a personal chord for him. During the film’s pre-production in 2018, Ben relapsed, and filming occurred shortly after he exited rehab, accompanied by a sober coach on set. Moreover, he also portrayed Phil Knight in 2023’s “Air.”

Personal Life

Affleck has had romantic ties with numerous high-profile stars. His highly publicized relationship with singer Jennifer Lopez from 2002 to 2004 made them tabloid sensations. The media relentlessly pursued “Bennifer,” capturing their every moment. Though both had been in the spotlight prior, Affleck was less accustomed to such ongoing attention and scrutiny. They became engaged in 2002, but their planned wedding in 2003 was postponed due to overwhelming media scrutiny, leading to their breakup the following year.

In 2005, Ben married Jennifer Garner, with whom he had three children. They revealed their separation in 2015, finalizing their divorce in late 2018.

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

In 2018, he experienced a relapse after a year of sobriety in 2019, but he promised to stay on track with his recovery. He adheres to a twelve-step program while managing his anxiety and depression.

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

Directing

Early in his career, Ben developed a passion for directing, absorbing knowledge from the directors he collaborated with. His directorial debut came in 2007 with the film “Gone Baby Gone.” He went on to write, produce, and direct “The Town” (2010) and did the same for “Argo” (2012), which achieved remarkable commercial and critical acclaim. Besides playing Phil Knight in 2023’s “Air,” Ben also directed and produced this film, representing the inaugural release from Affleck and Damon’s production venture, Artists Equity.

Awards and Honors

Affleck has earned Oscars for “Good Will Hunting” (best original screenplay, shared with Matt Damon) and “Argo” (best picture). He has also garnered multiple BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards, primarily for those two films.

Charity and Philanthropy

Supporting numerous worthy causes, Ben Affleck has championed organizations 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 purchased a home in LA’s Pacific Palisades for $17.55 million from producer Brian Grazer. Jennifer remained in the home until late 2018, when they 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. That same month, Jennifer purchased a new home in Brentwood Park, Los Angeles for $8 million.

Ben acquired a mansion in the Pacific Palisades for $19 million in April 2018. The 13,450 square-foot residence, constructed in 2017, features seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, along with a vast lawn and backyard pool area. He listed this house for $29.995 million in August 2022 and sold it within two weeks, receiving his full asking price.

Early in 2023, Affleck and Lopez dropped out of escrow on a $64 million Pacific Palisades mansion and were reported to have reneged on a $34 million Hamptons-style home in the same area. A year earlier, they had considered a $50 million Bel-Air mansion but later opted out. June 2023 saw reports of the couple finalizing the purchase of a $61 million mansion in Beverly Hills. Amid separation rumors in July 2024, Ben acquired his own $20.5 million mansion in the Palisades, financing it with a $10 million mortgage adjoining Diane Keaton’s longtime property.