Turns out, they were star-crossed lovers after all.
In 2021, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck rekindled an epic romance that had begun almost 20 years earlier on the set of “Gigli” in 2003.
Breaking up in January 2004, just three days before their lavish planned nuptials, “Bennifer,” as they were known, cited the media circus and tremendous “pressure” surrounding their relationship as the reason behind their split — the $2.5 million, 6-carat pink diamond engagement ring Affleck had gifted Lopez had even sparked a global trend for colored diamonds.
In the years that followed, both added millions to their wealth through respective film and music projects, but they also found love with other people: Lopez wed singer Marc Anthony in 2004 and had twins, Emme and Max, before divorcing in 2014, while Affleck married actress Jennifer Garner in 2005. They had three children — Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel —together before they got divorced in 2018.
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Affleck has admitted to struggles with alcohol addiction and completed stays in rehab in 2001, 2017, and 2018.
But as some might say, fate brought them back together. Lopez revealed that Affleck had sent her an email after singing her praises in a 2021 InStyle interview, calling her the “hardest-working person” in Hollywood and wondering how she still managed to look so good.
Lopez admitted that their breakup was “the biggest heartbreak of my life.” Soon after, the pair embarked on a whirlwind (and very public) romance—JLo’s mother, Guadalupe Rodriguez, even appeared on Today to reveal that “she always knew” they’d get back together because she had prayed for 20 years for it to happen.
This time, Affleck proposed with a rare $5 million green diamond engagement ring, and they finally made it to the altar on July 16, 2022, at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. On August 20, they held a second ceremony for friends and family outside of Savannah, Georgia, on Ben Affleck’s 87-acre estate that cost a reported $400,000.
"Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love … with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with. Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things — and worth waiting for."
—Jennifer Affleck, email to fans, July 17, 2022
And while it seemed the whole world was rooting for their happy ending, it wasn’t long before the cracks began to show. Affleck, who won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for “Good Will Hunting” in 1997, was credited with writing the script for Lopez’s $20 million self-funded musical documentary, “This Is Me … Now: A Love Story,” but its meandering plot and “corny storyline” was panned by critics and audiences alike.
Lopez had dedicated the movie to Affleck, just like she did with her 2003 album “This Is Me… Then,” yet it seemed that being in his megawatt wife’s spotlight was the last thing Affleck now wanted. Speaking on Kevin Hart's “Hart to Heart” podcast, he said: "I see myself as a director, but I'm a little bit shy. I also don't like a lot of attention.”
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Maybe it was the fact that both were Leos, who are known for bringing the drama through their rather notorious egos. Or maybe it was because Affleck comes from Boston and is a lifelong Red Sox fan, while Lopez represents all things New York, having been raised in the Bronx — she was even previously engaged to Yankees shortstop Alex Rodriguez. (He proposed to her with a 15-carat diamond estimated to be worth $1 million.)
We may never know the real reason for their split, but we do know that in June 2024, Affleck moved out of the 38,000-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion that the couple had purchased for $60 million, and on August 20, 2024, instead of celebrating their second wedding anniversary, Lopez filed for divorce.
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What’s at stake in Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck’s divorce?
According to E! News, in Lopez’s legal filings, she waived her claim to spousal support and, in turn, asked the judge to deny Affleck support.
In addition, Lopez filed for divorce herself, instead of using a lawyer.
People claims that choosing self-representation is seen as a savvy business move, one that could preserve Lopez’s and Affleck’s respective (and considerable) fortunes. It might also mean that Lopez and Affleck have already been privately working with a mediator in order to reach a quick and amicable settlement.
Others theorize that Lopez’s decision to self-represent means that she expects the proceedings won’t be complicated.
However, according to E! News, Lopez’s legal filings also revealed that the couple didn’t have a prenup in place, which means things could get messy — and quickly.
In the state of California, any money a couple earns during their marriage is considered community property. These assets are considered equally owned between the date of marriage and the date of separation, and according to Lopez’s filings, that latter date was April 26, 2024.
Here’s a look at Lopez and Affleck’s respective net worths and which assets the couple accumulated while married that could be at stake:
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What is Jennifer Lopez’s net worth?
According to Forbes, in 2020, Jennifer Lopez made the list of America’s self-made women with a net worth of $150 million or more, although other sources peg her wealth much higher: Celebrity Net Worth estimates her 2024 net worth to be as much as $400 million.
The multi-hyphenate actress, singer, and personality burst onto the scene in 1997 in the titular role of “Selena” and went on to star in other box-office hits like “Out of Sight” (1998), “Maid in Manhattan” (2002), “Monster-In-Law” (2005), and “Hustlers” (2019).
She released six dance albums — “On the 6,” “J. Lo,” “This Is Me … Then,” “Rebirth,” Como Ama una Mujer,” “Brave,” “Love?,” and “A.K.A” — that sold more than 80 million records.
Lopez’s four world concert tours, taking place between 2001 and 2019, grossed $80 million, while her 2016–2018 Las Vegas residency, “Jennifer Lopez: All I Have,” generated $101.9 million, making it the all-time most popular residency by a Latin artist. Lopez herself reportedly took home $500,000 per show.
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Lopez has also minted millions from her endorsements for Versace, L’Oréal Paris, Fiat, and Gillette, to name a few. Her groundbreaking perfume line, “Glow,” which launched in 2002 and blended the fruit-forward notes of lychee and melon with more traditional fragrances of freesia and rose, became so popular that it was expanded to include 32 scents. The entire franchise is now estimated to be worth more than $2 billion.
In addition, Lopez entered the celebrity-branded alcohol market in 2023 with Delola, a line of ready-to-drink cocktails.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Lopez’s real estate portfolio alone is estimated at $97 million. She has owned properties through the years in Miami, Los Angeles and New York City, including a $32.5 million Star Island mansion she bought with Alex Rodriguez in 2020 and a $23 million penthouse in Manhattan.
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What is Ben Affleck’s net worth?
As of 2020, Forbes estimated Affleck’s wealth at $55 million, while Celebrity Net Worth lists his fortune at $150 million — far less than Lopez’s, by any measurement.
Affleck started his career alongside his best friend, Matt Damon, who co-wrote and co-starred in “Good Will Hunting” (1997) which was largely based on their upbringing in working-class South Boston. They were paid $600,000 for the screenplay, which won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay that year.
Affleck has collaborated on numerous films with director Kevin Smith, including “Mallrats” (1995), “Chasing Amy” (1997), and “Dogma” (1999). He was also cast in more commercially successful films like “Pearl Harbor,” which made $449 million at the box office, and “Gone Girl,” which made $369 million.
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Affleck reportedly earned between $10 million and $20 million for his roles as Batman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016) and “Justice League” (2017).
Affleck stepped behind the camera in 2007 to direct his first film, “Gone Baby Gone.” He also produced and directed “The Town” (2010), “Argo” (2012), and “Air” (2023).
In terms of real estate, Affleck’s properties include his Georgian estate, which he purchased for $7.11 million in 2003, a $51 million Brentwood compound Affleck and Garner sold to Maroon 5’s Adam Levine in 2018, and a 13,000 square-foot Pacific Palisades bachelor pad that Affleck sold in 2022 for $28.5 million, shortly after his marriage to Lopez.
What are Lopez & Affleck’s shared assets?
According to Fox Business, earnings from these projects during Lopez and Affleck’s two-year marriage are among the assets considered to be community property:
Lopez's 2022–2024 earnings
- “Shotgun Wedding” (2022)
- “This is Me … Now: A Love Story” (2024)
- “The Mother” (2023)
- “Atlas” (2024)
- The Delola Cocktail brand
- Major endorsement deals from names like Coach
Affleck’s 2022-2024 earnings
- “Air” (2023)
- “Kiss the Future” (2023)
- “Small Things Like These” (2024)
- “The Instigators” (2024)
In addition, in November 2022, Affleck co-founded the production company Artists Equity alongside Matt Damon. It produced “This Is Me … Now: A Love Story” (2024) and the forthcoming film “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” which also stars Lopez.
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And then there’s that house. The 12-bedroom, 24-bath Beverly Hills compound Lopez and Affleck purchased in May 2023 for $60 million went back on the market in July 2024 with an asking price of $68 million, which is $8 million more than they paid for it.
Yahoo! Entertainment reported that several prospective buyers have toured the home, but these have yet to result in any offers due to high interest rates.
Finally, there’s the intangible cost of divorce, which affects not only the couple but also their families and can leave children feeling sensitive and overwhelmed, often for years to come.
Lopez has praised Affleck for being “an amazing Dad” to her children, while Affleck’s children have also become close with Lopez — in August 2024, stepdaughter Violet was even seen wearing one of her dresses while out to brunch with Lopez in Brentwood, Calif.
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