Recently, a video circulating on IG has captured Hollywood mega star Ben Affleck’s 13-year-old son, Samuel, expressing a desire to buy a pair of designer sneakers but being promptly turned down by his father with just one sentence. Affleck’s approach to teaching money management has gained praise from netizens.
With an annual income of up to $55 million and an estimated net worth exceeding $150 million, Affleck holds strong beliefs when it comes to his children’s education. In a recently leaked video online, his 13-year-old son enthusiastically set his eyes on a pair of Dior x Air Jordan collaboration sneakers priced at a whopping $6,000, only to be denied by Affleck.
In the video, Affleck and his son attended a sneaker exhibition together, where the son was immediately drawn to the trendy sneakers, eagerly inquiring about the price and size. Standing by, Affleck directly told his son, “You’ll have to mow a lot of lawns to afford those.” He even teased his son, saying, “You like those because they’re expensive.” The son tried to explain, “No, I just think they look really good!”
When his son was told he would have to earn money by mowing lawns to own those shoes, he immediately backed off. Affleck stated that making children earn pocket money through chores is his consistent parenting principle, as it not only curbs impulsive spending but also teaches children the value of money. “If you make a kid earn money by mowing lawns, they immediately lose interest in buying shoes,” Affleck remarked.
Affleck revealed that when he refuses to buy expensive items for his son, “He says, ‘Don’t we have money?’ and I reply, ‘You don’t have money, I do.'” He shares three children with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, and his 19-year-old and 16-year-old children have already started working part-time jobs while studying.
Affleck once explained his philosophy on the Today Show, saying, “You love your children and want to give them everything, but if you don’t teach them ‘if you want something, you have to work for it’, you’re actually harming them.” He also emphasized that his children don’t lack shoes to wear, and he firmly refuses to let them have expensive items.
At 52, Affleck recalled sharing a bank account with his friend Matt Damon during their teenage years, accumulating audition funds through commercials and extra roles, emphasizing that “every penny was earned by themselves”. Now, Affleck is striving to pass on this concept of “self-sufficiency” to the next generation.
Affleck took on the role of Batman since 2016. In February 2019, he announced his departure as the actor playing Batman, but continued as a producer for the film, with Robert Pattinson taking over the role later. Despite this, Affleck returned as Batman in August 2020 in the movie “The Flash” and reprised the role in the reshoots of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. In 2023, he returned as Batman in “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”.
Recently, Affleck promoted his starring role in the new movie “The Accountant 2” and shared heartwarming father-son interactions, sparking discussions online. Many internet users praised Affleck for his approach, saying “Not spoiling children is true wisdom”, “Teaching financial concepts from a young age is crucial”, and “This is the epitome of wealthy yet humble parenting”.