Jennifer Garner experienced significant financial and career anxiety in the period following her divorce from Ben Affleck, she revealed on a recent episode of the “Aspire” podcast with Emma Grede.
"I panicked when I was first out of my marriage and realized I had taken such a step back in my work," Garner, 54, stated. "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, who finalized her divorce from Affleck in 2018, expressed concern about the industry's ageism and its impact on her ability to secure acting roles as she got older. "And suddenly I realized, 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.'"
Another concern for the actress was her availability to take on roles, as she could no longer be away from her children, Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13, for extended periods. She also worried about maintaining her children's lifestyle without Affleck's income.
"It’s not like you can just un-famous yourself," Garner explained. "Life is expensive, and you still have to kind of figure out how you’re gonna live. And just because you’re well-known by people does not mean that there is some great living being provided for you."
Prior to the split, Garner admitted she had not given much thought to money, but the realization that she needed to become a primary earner for her family quickly became serious.
This shift prompted her involvement with the organic children's food company, Once Upon a Farm, where she has served as brand officer and co-founder since 2017. The company went public in February with a $724 million valuation, and Garner reportedly earned $1 million annually last year, with projections of earning $2 million to $3 million per year through 2028.
Garner and Affleck, who were married for ten years before separating in 2015, met on the set of “Pearl Harbor” in 2000. During their marriage, Garner appeared in films such as “Elektra” (2005), “Juno” (2007), and “Dallas Buyers Club” (2013), but she significantly reduced her work to focus on raising their children.
Post-divorce, Garner has taken on various roles, including a voice part in “Wonder Park” (2019) and appearances in “The Adam Project” (2022) and “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024).
She has also spoken positively about her co-parenting relationship with Affleck, noting his support in her ability to take on acting jobs. "They can stay with their dad," Garner said of her children. "He takes care of them. He’s a great partner in that way. And so that’s very freeing."