Jennifer Garner has spoken about experiencing financial panic following her divorce from Ben Affleck, which prompted her to re-evaluate her career and financial security.
Garner, 54, stated that after splitting from Affleck in 2015, she realized she had significantly stepped back from her professional life to focus on raising their three children: Violet, Fin, and Samuel. This realization led to anxiety about the future of her career and her ability to earn income.
"I panicked when I was first out of my marriage and realised I had taken such a step back in my work," Garner said on Emma Grede's Aspire podcast. "Suddenly I realised, like, I don't know how long I'll be able to work. 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. That's not been traditionally the role."
The actress explained that the end of her marriage necessitated a shift in her perspective on financial independence and her role as a caregiver. "I was suddenly like, wait a minute, I have to take care of myself. I have to take care of these kids. So what is it going to be?"
Garner and her manager then adopted a "very calculated" approach to her career, with a priority on remaining close to home. "I can work in Los Angeles. I can't leave these kids for six months at a time. I would love to - I love going on location - but that is not this time in my career," she recalled.
This strategic approach led to her involvement with Once Upon a Farm, an organic children's food company she co-founded in 2017. The company recently made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange, with Garner as its largest individual shareholder. Forbes estimated her stake to be worth approximately $50 million.
Despite her fame, Garner emphasized that celebrity does not guarantee financial stability. "It's not like you can just unfamous yourself. Life is expensive and you still have to kind of figure out how you're going to live," she said. "And just because you're well known by people does not mean that there is some great living being provided for you."
She also shared that she has a tendency to give away a significant amount of money, leading her business manager to occasionally advise her to "pump the brakes."
Garner has continued to balance her business endeavors with her acting career, recently appearing in Peacock's "The Five-Star Weekend." She expressed gratitude for the opportunities to have worked while also prioritizing time with her children, stating she has no regrets about the years spent closer to home.