• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon 'went broke' six months after getting Good Will Hunting paychecks

Home> Celebrity

Published 17:29 22 Apr 2023 GMT+1

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon 'went broke' six months after getting Good Will Hunting paychecks

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon once shared a bank account and the Batman v Superman star explained how they spent all their money in six months.

Gregory Robinson

Gregory Robinson

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon blew all the money the money they made from Good Will Hunting in only six months.

The long-time friends, actors and screenwriters had their big break in 1997 when their film, which starred Robin Williams, won an Academy Award.

During an appearance on Friday’s episode (21 April) of The Drew Barrymore Show, Affleck explained how the pair managed to spend all their money in such a short amount of time.

After selling the film for $600,000, the pair – who lived together at the time and shared a bank account - split the money equally between each other.

Advert

Affleck was so chuffed with the money they made he thought he would ‘never have to work again,’ but that before they had to give some of the money to their agents, pay taxes and bought expensive cars.

Good Will Hunting came out in 1997.
AGENZIA SINTESI / Alamy/ Miramax

"We sold it [Good Will Hunting] for $600,000, we split that, $300,000 each, and then the agents got $30,000 so we had $270,000 and we paid about $160,000 in taxes so we had $110,000, each bought $55,000 Jeep Cherokees and then had $55,000 left," Affleck told Barrymore.

"Naturally we decided to rent a $5,000 a month party house on Glencoe Way by the Hollywood Bowl and we were broke in six months."

Advert

He continued: "We were friends and we wanted each other to succeed and we love each other, so it seemed clear like, let's do this together.”

The life-long friends once shared a bank account.
AGENZIA SINTESI / Alamy/ Miramax

Damon recently recalled sharing a bank account with his pal during their joint interview on The Bill Simmons Podcast in March.

The Jason Bourne star said they used the shared account to pay for trips to travel to New York for auditions.

Advert

They opened the account in high school and continued using the account well into adulthood to pay bills.

“As long as one of us had money, we knew the power wasn't going to get shut off," Damon said.

"But we were going to help each other and be there for each other," Affleck shared.

The pair went on to have a very successful career and they recently worked together as producers on the Nike film Air.

Advert

During the podcast interview, Affleck made a confession about their shared account: "I still have the checkbook. I wonder if it would work?"

Now that's what you call a sign of a lifelong friendship.

Featured Image Credit: AGENZIA SINTESI / Alamy/ Miramax

Topics: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Celebrity

Gregory Robinson
Gregory Robinson

Gregory is a journalist for UNILAD. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, he has worked for both print and online publications and is particularly interested in TV, (pop) music and lifestyle. He loves Madonna, teen dramas from the '90s and prefers tea over coffee.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Jennifer Lopez makes brutal comment on love life amid Ben Affleck divorce
  • Matt Damon reveals what he really thinks about resemblance between him and fellow Hollywood actor
  • Ben Affleck and Matt Damon respond to if they'll ever do a Good Will Hunting 2
  • Ben Affleck shares important lesson he’s teaching his children after moment son asked for $6,000 trainers went viral

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty
    an hour ago

    Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris makes shocking claim against his estate that’s reportedly left family divided

    Paris Jackson has filed a lawsuit against the executors of her father's estate

    Celebrity
  • In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele/YouTube
    2 hours ago

    Hailey Bieber breaks down exactly what she’s had done to her face in honest admission

    Hailey Bieber opened up about her skincare routine and whether she's had any treatment on her face during candid podcast interview

    Celebrity
  • Unique Nicole/Getty
    4 hours ago

    Denise Richards has fiery response to Charlie Sheen after he claimed she cashed his $1,000,000 ‘joke’ check

    Sheen and Richards were married from 2002 to 2005

    Celebrity
  • TikTok/Kim and North
    4 hours ago

    Kim Kardashian has blunt 5-word response after North West, 12, shocks people with ‘face tattoos and piercings’

    North West caused a stir online after posting a series of TikToks depicting her and her friends with fake facial tattoos and grillz

    Celebrity