By Jennifer Geddes, provided by Realtor
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are officially over. After months of wild speculation and sordid rumors about the state of their marriage, it was just revealed that they are divorcing.
J. Lo, 55, is understood to have filed for divorce from 52-year-old Affleck on Aug. 20, a little over two years after the couple had married in Las Vegas in July 2022, TMZ first reported.
Throughout the past 18 months, the rumor mill has been working overtime to decipher the truth about the couple’s romance. Interestingly, it is their real estate movements that have provided the greatest clues to the state of their relationship.
The couple’s romance has been the source of public fascination for more than two decades now. Lopez and Affleck first began dating in 2002 and got engaged just a few months later. But the pair’s ill-fated first romance came to an end in 2004, before they made it down the aisle.
After that initial breakup, Lopez and Affleck both went on to wed other people.
The singer tied the knot with Marc Anthony in 2004, and the pair welcomed two children together, while Affleck married his former co-star Jennifer Garner, with whom he shares three children.
However, J. Lo and Affleck seemed to have remained friends throughout the 17 years they spent apart; and in 2021, that relationship once again blossomed into a romance—much to the delight of their fans.
Their reunion appeared at first to be a real-life fairy tale. However, it now seems there is no happy ending in store for the former Hollywood power couple.
Rumors first began to emerge that there was trouble in “paradise” when the couple attended the Grammy Awards in February 2023. Images emerged of Affleck looking stony-faced and bored while sitting alongside his wife.
They worked hard to shut that speculation down; but in June 2024, their separation was all but confirmed when Affleck was seen moving his belongings out of the $68 million mansion he shared with Lopez, according to a report in People.
It was then revealed that the actor was holing up in a rented “bachelor pad” in Brentwood, CA. Weeks later, the pair put their sprawling Beverly Hills megamansion up for sale for $68 million in a move that many saw as a foreshadowing of J. Lo’s official divorce filing.
From that jaw-dropping property to Affleck’s newly purchased $20 million post-divorce pad, take a look at all of the expansive homes tied up in the couple’s divorce.
The marital home: Jen and Ben’s $68 million Beverly Hills mansion
Long before the divorce papers were filed, the two made a big statement about their relationship status when they decided to part ways with their jointly held Beverly Hills mansion.
The two heaved the massive estate onto the market for a hefty $68 million in July.
But even before that, Lopez and Affleck were said to have been quietly shopping the home around in June, before making the listing (and their relationship troubles) public.
The pair picked up the megamansion, following a long house hunt, for $60.8 million in May. The staggering amount was a relative deal, compared with the mansion’s initial $135 million price tag in 2018. However, they soon added to the expense by embarking on a months-long renovation.
Suitable for a power couple and their children—Lopez has two with her ex, Marc Anthony, and Affleck has three with his ex, Jennifer Garner—the property on over 5 acres spans 38,000 square feet, with 12 bedrooms and 24 baths.
Plus, there’s a separate 5,000-square-foot guest penthouse, a caretaker house, a two-bedroom guardhouse, a 12-car garage, and parking for 80 vehicles.
On the grounds, recreational activity abounds. There’s an indoor sports complex with basketball and pickleball courts, a fully equipped gym, boxing ring, sports lounge, and a bar.
Outside, there’s a “stunning” zero-edge pool, the listing notes. The estate is only accessible through private, gated streets.
Good home hunting
While they clearly have their differences, the broken-up couple are no slouches when it comes to real estate. Here are the separate but sumptuous places they each call home.
Even before the couple had decided to part ways with their marital mansion, it appeared that Affleck had already moved on.
In June, he was reportedly spotted in a $100,000-a-month rental in upscale Brentwood.
The gated, eight-bedroom residence measures 10,000 square feet. It features a formal entry, chef’s kitchen, great room with a fireplace, piano bar, study, and library. Plus, it comes with a detached guesthouse, fitness center, sport court, and pool.
In June, it was the apparent site of a graduation party for his son, Samuel. According to the Daily Mail, the rental is just blocks from Garner’s home.
That same month, Affleck reportedly removed his belongings from the Beverly Hills property while J. Lo was on a European trip.
Affleck’s spendy splurge
Then, at the end of July, the “Batman” star appeared to have plunked down a head-spinning $20.5 million on a lavish Los Angeles lair.
The five-bedroom mansion sits on two-thirds of an acre and was listed in May for $20.5 million. It was sold on July 24 for that exact amount.
The Los Angeles mansion was built in 1941 and designed by architect Cliff May. It has since been reimagined by architect Steve Giannetti, with interior design by Kelly Harmon.
The 6,247-square-foot interior features an open floor plan with wood-beamed ceilings and garden views. The primary suite has a fireplace and access to the gardens. Upstairs, there’s an office with a fireplace. A two-story guesthouse is included.
This property also comes with stables and a pool with a spa. The location is close to the Brentwood Country Mart and Sunset Boulevard and is billed as an “ultimate private and luxurious setting.”
J. Lo’s posh penthouse
New York City is no longer an option for Jenny on the Block. This summer, she finally sold her Manhattan penthouse that had been on the market since 2017.
The elegant abode with an enviable terrace in the NoMad neighborhood was listed for $27 million in 2017. On and off the market since then, the 6,540-square-foot residence had its price eventually reduced to $24,990,000. The sale price was $23 million. Despite all the discounts, she still came out ahead of the just over $20 million she paid for it in 2014.
Over the summer, Lopez was seen decamping to her Hamptons retreat. She has been spotted out and about in the area this summer, where she reportedly owns a $10 million home she picked up in 2013.
She sold her Bel-Air compound for $34 million last October but had been seen house hunting in Beverly Hills earlier in the summer.
Miami compound
Prior to her marriage to Affleck, Lopez was link to baseball star Alex Rodriguez. During the time they were together, in 2020, she reportedly picked up a $32.5 million Miami Beach compound on the appropriately labeled Star Island, which she appears to still own.
It might be a perfect perch in which to ride out the avalanche of attention surrounding her latest relationship debacle.
The 10-bedroom, 14,7000-square-foot mansion features Biscayne Bay and Miami skyline views. Property highlights include a pool with a spa, covered bar, and private dock.
Where they married
As for Affleck, should he want to escape the glare of media attention, he might land at his Georgia estate, which he purchased in 2003.
Affleck paid $7.11 million for a 6,360-square-foot home on 87 acres. It comes with a guesthouse, summer cottage, and deep-water dock.
The property was listed in 2018 for $8.9 million, then taken off the market in 2020.
The Riceboro, GA, property was the site of the couple’s second wedding celebration, after they tied the knot in Las Vegas.
The post How Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Lavish Homes Got Tangled Up in Their Messy Divorce Drama appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
