Jennifer Garner ‘panicked’ about money and her career after Ben Affleck divorce: Can’t ‘just un-famous yourself’

Jennifer Garner, who stepped away from the spotlight to raise her children, “panicked” about her finances during her split from Ben Affleck.

“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.’” the actress — who finalized her divorce from Affleck in 2018 — recalled on Tuesday’s 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, now 54, explained that she was also worried about her career in Hollywood since the industry is known for ageism.

“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.'”

Garner also became concerned about picking up acting roles as a single mom, since she could no longer “leave [her] kids for six months at a time” and film at locations far from Los Angeles where she raises her and Affleck’s three children: Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13.

At the same time, fear crept in about being able to maintain the same lifestyle she had while married to Affleck, especially for her kids’ sake.

“It’s not like you can just un-famous yourself,” she 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.

Garner confessed that prior to the split she was “someone who had never given a lot of thought to money.”

However, “it became very serious to [her] really quickly” that she needed to become an “earner.”

The “13 Going on 30” star said that having this realization is what inspired her to start working with organic kids’ and baby food company Once Upon a Farm.

She has held the brand officer and co-founder positions since 2017. The company went public in February at a $724 million valuation and Garner earned $1 million annually last year, per Fortune.

Additionally, the “Alias” star is expected to make $2 million to $3 million per year through 2028, according to the outlet.

Garner and Affleck, also 54, met on the set of “Pearl Harbor” in 2000 and married five years later.

While married to Affleck, Garner starred in a series of film projects, including “Elektra” (2005), “Juno” (2007) and “Dallas Buyers Club” (2013) but took a major step back in order to stay at home with the kids when they were young.

The former couple announced their seperation in 2015 after ten years of marriage.

As she was going through divorce proceedings, Garner still starred in some projects, including “Miracles from Heaven” (2016) and “Love, Simon” (2018).

Her first project post-divorce was for 2019’s “Wonder Park,” where she voiced the role of Mrs. Bailey, the mother of protagonist June, whose encouragement and imagination inspire June to create the magical amusement park.

Since then, she’s starred in major movies and TV shows including “The Adam Project” (2022), “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024) and “The Five-Star Weekend” (2026).

While speaking to Entertainment Weekly last month, Garner credited Affleck for allowing her take on her latest role as central character Hollis Shaw in Peacock’s “The Five-Star Weekend.”

Although she was hesitant to take on the gig at first since it shot for a month in Nantucket, Massachusetts, Garner told the outlet she felt comfortable leaving her kids with her “incredible co-parent,” Affleck.

“They can stay with their dad,” Garner said. “He takes care of them. He’s a great partner in that way. And so that’s very freeing.”

This isn’t the first time Garner has gushed about co-parenting with the “Gone Girl” actor.

In June, she shared an emotional Father’s Day tribute to her ex-husband.

“I see the way my kids dote on their dad and I’m happy for them,” she captioned never-before-seen snaps of Ben Affleck with their children. “To love and be loved by a great dad is a gift.”