Jennifer Garner had a major realization about her finances following her divorce from Ben Affleck. The “13 Going on 30” star recently opened up about how her 2015 separation and 2018 divorce prompted her to rethink her career and take greater control of her financial future.
Garner also discussed her multi-million-dollar baby food company, Once Upon a Farm, and how the business became an important part of her journey.
Jennifer Garner reportedly became an earner after Ben Affleck divorce
Jennifer Garner stepped back from the Hollywood spotlight for a period to focus on raising the three children she shares with Ben Affleck. However, following their split, the actress realized she needed to take greater control of her career and finances to support herself and her family.
During an appearance on Emma Grede’s Aspire podcast, Garner admitted that she “panicked” after realizing how significantly she had scaled back her work. “I panicked when I was first out of my marriage and realized I had taken such a step back in my work,” she said.
Reflecting on the ageism she has experienced in Hollywood, Garner added, “Suddenly, I realized I don’t know how long I’ll be able to work. It 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!’ You know what I mean? That’s not traditionally been the role.”
Garner explained that the separation also made her think more seriously about her financial responsibilities as a mother. She shares Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13, with Affleck, and noted that she could not simply devote herself to acting projects that required her to spend extended periods away from Los Angeles.
The actress also acknowledged that she had been fortunate to enjoy a privileged lifestyle, but said that recognition did not eliminate the need to plan for her financial future.
She added, “It’s not like you can just un-famous yourself. 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. And it became very serious to me really quickly as someone who had never given a lot of thought to money. Oh, I need to be an earner here.”
Originally reported by Ankita Shaw on Reality Tea.
