Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez built one of Hollywood’s most closely followed relationships. They met while making Gigli, became engaged in 2002 and ended their first romance before their planned wedding. Nearly two decades later, they reunited, announced a second engagement and married in Las Vegas in July 2022.
However, their marriage ended after about two years. Lopez filed for divorce in August 2024 and listed April 26, 2024, as their separation date. A judge approved their settlement in January 2025, while the divorce legally took effect on February 21, 2025.
As of July 2026, Affleck and Lopez remain divorced. Nevertheless, they have spoken respectfully about each other and reunited professionally to promote Kiss of the Spider Woman. Neither has announced a renewed romantic relationship.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez at a Glance
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| First major meeting | During the production of Gigli |
| First relationship | 2002–2004 |
| First engagement | 2002 |
| First planned wedding | September 2003, later postponed |
| Romantic reunion | 2021 |
| Second engagement | April 2022 |
| Legal wedding | July 16, 2022, in Las Vegas |
| Georgia celebration | August 20, 2022 |
| Separation date in filing | April 26, 2024 |
| Divorce filing | August 20, 2024 |
| Settlement approved | January 6, 2025 |
| Divorce took effect | February 21, 2025 |
| Children together | None |
| Current status | Divorced, with occasional professional contact |
The Associated Press report on their completed divorce confirms that the settlement ended the marriage without a public dispute over child custody or spousal support.
How Did Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Meet?
Affleck and Lopez developed a close connection while working on Gigli, which began production in late 2001. Lopez was still married to dancer Cris Judd when she and Affleck became colleagues, and both initially described their relationship as a friendship.
After Lopez and Judd separated in 2002, Lopez and Affleck began appearing publicly as a couple. Their relationship quickly attracted intense press coverage, and entertainment outlets created the nickname “Bennifer” by combining their first names.
Their fame amplified the attention. Lopez had established successful music and film careers, while Affleck had already won an Academy Award for co-writing Good Will Hunting and starred in major Hollywood productions.
When Did Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez First Get Engaged?
Affleck proposed to Lopez in 2002 with a pink diamond engagement ring. The couple soon began planning a September 2003 wedding.
However, they postponed the ceremony only days before it was due to take place. At the time, they cited the overwhelming media attention surrounding the event. Reports described elaborate efforts by photographers and entertainment outlets to uncover the location and details.
The postponement did not immediately end the relationship. Still, Affleck and Lopez called off their engagement and separated in early 2004.
Why Did Their First Relationship End?
Affleck and Lopez have both identified public scrutiny as an important strain on their first relationship. Their romance received constant coverage, while Gigli attracted unusually harsh criticism after its 2003 release.
However, neither has blamed one single event for the breakup. The available statements suggest that their relationship faced a combination of pressure, timing and different levels of comfort with publicity.
Therefore, claims that one person definitively ended the relationship for a secret or scandalous reason go beyond the evidence.
What Happened During Their Years Apart?
After ending their first engagement, Lopez and Affleck built separate marriages and families.
Lopez married singer Marc Anthony in 2004. They welcomed twins Max and Emme in 2008, announced their separation in 2011 and finalized their divorce in 2014.
Meanwhile, Affleck married actor Jennifer Garner in 2005. They share three children: Violet, Seraphina and Samuel. Affleck and Garner announced their separation in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2018.
Although Affleck and Lopez moved on, they occasionally spoke positively about each other. Their continued respect later helped make their 2021 reunion appear less unexpected than it might otherwise have seemed.
How Did Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Get Back Together?
Lopez and Affleck reconnected in spring 2021, shortly after Lopez ended her engagement to former baseball player Alex Rodriguez.
At first, photographs and reports showed Affleck visiting Lopez and travelling with her. Then, in July 2021, Lopez publicly confirmed their renewed romance by sharing a photograph of them kissing. Later that year, they returned to the red carpet together at the Venice Film Festival.
Both described the reunion as a second chance. Moreover, they said that their experiences during the years apart helped them approach the relationship with greater maturity.
Their Second Engagement
Lopez confirmed their second engagement in April 2022. This time, Affleck proposed with a green diamond ring.
The engagement came approximately 20 years after his first proposal. Consequently, their reunion became a widely discussed story about former partners reconnecting after separate marriages, children and major career changes.
Unlike their first engagement, they did not spend a long period publicly planning a large ceremony.
When Did Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Marry?
Affleck and Lopez legally married at a wedding chapel in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022. They obtained a marriage licence and held a small ceremony before midnight.
About a month later, on August 20, they hosted a larger celebration at Affleck’s property in Georgia. Family members and friends attended the event.
Lopez legally adopted the surname Affleck during the marriage. However, she continued using Jennifer Lopez professionally.
Did Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Have Children Together?
No. Affleck and Lopez did not have biological or adopted children together.
Instead, their marriage created a blended family that included Lopez’s twins and Affleck’s three children. They sometimes attended school events, family outings and celebrations together.
Because the five children did not choose their parents’ level of fame, responsible coverage should avoid publishing school locations, private schedules or unsupported claims about their reactions to the divorce.
When Did Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Separate?
Lopez listed April 26, 2024, as the separation date in her divorce petition.
Public speculation about their marriage grew during spring and summer 2024 when they began attending fewer events together. However, neither confirmed the separation during that period.
Lopez filed for divorce on August 20, 2024—exactly two years after the couple’s Georgia wedding celebration. She submitted the petition to Los Angeles County Superior Court and cited irreconcilable differences.
Why Did Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Divorce?
Neither Affleck nor Lopez has identified one scandal, betrayal or dramatic incident as the definitive reason for the divorce.
In a GQ interview about his life and career, Affleck said the breakup did not involve a hidden scandal or one simple event. Instead, he described it as two people trying to understand their lives and relationship. He also expressed respect for Lopez.
Meanwhile, Lopez has discussed the divorce as part of a wider period of personal reflection. During a June 2026 podcast appearance, she said she needed time to understand herself, examine her choices and accept responsibility for her own growth. However, she did not present those comments as proof that she alone caused the marriage to end.
Did Different Views About Privacy Cause the Divorce?
Affleck generally maintains a more guarded approach to publicity, while Lopez often expresses personal experiences through music, interviews and visual projects. This difference became a frequent subject of media commentary.
Still, Affleck rejected attempts to reduce the breakup to one contrast in personality or publicity preferences. He explained that he did not judge Lopez’s approach and did not want people to interpret their differences as hostility.
Therefore, privacy may provide useful context, but public evidence does not establish it as the sole cause.
When Was Their Divorce Finalized?
Lopez and Affleck settled the financial terms through mediation in September 2024. They later asked a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to approve the agreement.
The judge approved the settlement on January 6, 2025. However, California’s waiting period meant the divorce did not legally take effect until February 21, 2025. At that point, both became legally single.
What Did the Divorce Settlement Include?
Public documents confirmed several key terms:
- Neither person would receive spousal support.
- Lopez would restore her legal name to Jennifer Lynn Lopez.
- They did not need a custody agreement because they had no children together.
- They resolved the financial issues through mediation.
However, the court did not publish most of the detailed financial arrangements. Consequently, reports that claim to know exactly how the couple divided every property, film payment or business interest may rely on incomplete information.
Are Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Back Together?
No reliable evidence shows that Affleck and Lopez have resumed a romantic relationship.
They appeared together at the October 2025 New York premiere of Kiss of the Spider Woman. However, the event represented a professional collaboration: Lopez starred in the film, while Affleck served as an executive producer through Artists Equity. Variety documented their appearance together on the red carpet.
A friendly appearance between former spouses does not confirm a reconciliation. As of July 2026, neither Affleck nor Lopez has publicly announced that they are dating again.
Do Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Still Work Together?
Yes. Their divorce did not erase projects that they developed while married.
Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity helped produce Kiss of the Spider Woman, which starred Lopez. Lopez later credited Affleck with helping the production move forward after she told him how strongly she wanted the role.
They also had professional connections through Unstoppable. Lopez appeared in the wrestling drama, while Artists Equity produced it.
Their continued work shows that former spouses can support a shared production without renewing their marriage.
What Happened to Their Beverly Hills Mansion?
Affleck and Lopez bought a large Beverly Hills-area property in 2023. They later listed it after their separation.
In 2026, the official Beverly Hills property listing advertised the estate for $49.995 million. The listing describes a 38,000-square-foot property with 12 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms and approximately five acres.
Reports published in July 2026 said the property had entered escrow with a buyer. However, escrow does not equal a completed sale. Until the transaction closes and public records confirm it, the final price and buyer remain uncertain.
What Movies Have Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Made Together?
Their personal and professional lives have overlapped several times.
Gigli
Gigli brought Affleck and Lopez together during their first relationship. The 2003 crime comedy received poor reviews and became closely associated with the intense media coverage surrounding the couple.
Jersey Girl
Lopez had a smaller role opposite Affleck in Kevin Smith’s Jersey Girl, released in 2004. Her character’s storyline ended early in the film.
“Jenny from the Block”
Affleck appeared in Lopez’s 2002 “Jenny from the Block” music video. The video deliberately showed the couple coping with photographers and public attention.
This Is Me… Now
Affleck appeared in Lopez’s 2024 visual album This Is Me… Now: A Love Story and participated in its accompanying documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told. The projects examined love, self-image and Lopez’s creative process.
Unstoppable
Lopez acted in Unstoppable, while Artists Equity produced the film. Affleck co-founded the company with Matt Damon.
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Lopez starred in the musical drama, and Affleck served as an executive producer. Their professional involvement continued after the divorce became final.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2001–2002 | They developed a connection while making Gigli |
| 2002 | Their relationship became public |
| Late 2002 | Affleck proposed for the first time |
| September 2003 | They postponed their planned wedding |
| Early 2004 | They ended their first engagement |
| Spring 2021 | They reconnected romantically |
| July 2021 | Lopez publicly confirmed the reunion |
| April 2022 | They announced their second engagement |
| July 16, 2022 | They legally married in Las Vegas |
| August 20, 2022 | They held a wedding celebration in Georgia |
| April 26, 2024 | Separation date listed in Lopez’s filing |
| August 20, 2024 | Lopez filed for divorce |
| January 6, 2025 | A judge approved the settlement |
| February 21, 2025 | The divorce legally took effect |
| October 2025 | They appeared together at a film premiere |
| July 2026 | They remained divorced; their former home reportedly entered escrow |
The timeline combines court reporting, public appearances and established entertainment-industry records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez still married?
No. Their divorce legally took effect on February 21, 2025, after a judge approved the settlement in January.
Are Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez dating again?
Neither has announced a romantic reunion. Their 2025 appearance together related to Kiss of the Spider Woman, which Lopez starred in and Affleck helped produce.
How long were Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez married?
They legally married on July 16, 2022. Lopez listed April 26, 2024, as their separation date, and the divorce took effect in February 2025.
Why did Jennifer Lopez file for divorce?
Her petition cited irreconcilable differences. Neither Lopez nor Affleck has identified one scandal or single event as the complete cause of the breakup.
Did Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have a prenup?
Publicly available court reporting does not conclusively confirm the complete terms or existence of a prenuptial agreement. Most financial details remained private, so articles should not present unverified reports as established fact.
Do Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have children together?
No. Lopez has twins with Marc Anthony, while Affleck has three children with Jennifer Garner.
Who filed for divorce?
Jennifer Lopez filed the petition herself in Los Angeles County Superior Court on August 20, 2024.
Did either person receive spousal support?
No. Their public settlement terms stated that neither would pay spousal support to the other.
Are Affleck and Lopez on good terms?
Their public comments and professional appearances suggest a respectful relationship. Affleck has expressed respect for Lopez, while Lopez has credited him with helping produce Kiss of the Spider Woman. Still, neither shares every private detail of their current relationship.
Conclusion
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez experienced two engagements, a separation lasting almost two decades, a romantic reunion and a two-year marriage.
Their legal relationship ended in February 2025. However, both have rejected a scandal-driven explanation for the breakup. Instead, they have described a complex personal transition and continued to show professional respect.
As of July 2026, they remain divorced. Their public cooperation around Kiss of the Spider Woman reflects a working relationship, not a confirmed romantic reunion.
