Jennifer Garner revealed she experienced financial anxiety following her 2018 divorce from Ben Affleck, according to an appearance on the “Aspire” podcast with Emma Grede.
“I was suddenly like, ‘Wait a minute. I have to take care of myself. I have to take care of these kids. I didn’t get some huge payout,’” Garner recalled. The actress had stepped away from the spotlight to raise her three children with Affleck: Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13.
Garner explained that she panicked upon realizing she had “taken such a step back” in her career. She also expressed concern about ageism in the entertainment industry, noting that Hollywood does not typically reward older actors with higher pay.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be able to work,” she said. “This isn’t a career that’s like, ‘Hey, you’re 60, you’re 55, you’re 43? Come on, let’s pay you more than you’ve ever made.’”
The actress was also concerned about her ability to take on film roles as a single parent, since she could no longer leave her children for extended periods to shoot at locations away from Los Angeles.
Garner acknowledged worrying about maintaining the lifestyle she had while married to Affleck, stating: “It’s not like you can just un-famous yourself. Life is expensive, and you still have to figure out how you’re gonna live. Just because you’re well-known does not mean that there is some great living being provided for you.”
Prior to the split, Garner described herself as someone who had not given much thought to money. The realization that she needed to become an “earner” prompted her to pursue business ventures. She became brand officer and co-founder of organic kids’ and baby food company Once Upon a Farm in 2017. According to Fortune, the company went public in February at a $724 million valuation, and Garner earned $1 million annually last year, with projections of $2 million to $3 million annually through 2028.
Garner and Affleck met on the set of “Pearl Harbor” in 2000 and married in 2005. During their marriage, Garner appeared in films including “Juno” (2007) and “Dallas Buyers Club” (2013) but reduced her acting work. The couple announced their separation in 2015 after ten years of marriage.
Since the divorce, Garner has returned to acting with roles in “The Adam Project” (2022), “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024), and “The Five-Star Weekend” (2026).
Key facts
- Garner finalized her divorce from Ben Affleck in 2018 after 10 years of marriage
- She stepped back from acting to raise their three children
- Garner became co-founder and brand officer of Once Upon a Farm in 2017
- The company went public in February at a $724 million valuation
- Garner earned $1 million annually last year and is projected to earn $2-3 million annually through 2028
- She expressed concerns about ageism in Hollywood and ability to take on roles as a single parent