Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were one of the most iconic celebrity couples. Nearly two decades after first making headlines and earning the nickname “Bennifer,” the have made it official by getting married in Las Vegas followed by a celebration at Ben’s Riceboro, Georgia estate with friends and family in August 2022. But their love didn’t last forever, as Jennifer filed for divorce from Ben in August 2024. Find out everything you need to know about Bennifer from their first romance to their eventual breakup below.
Ben and Jennifer’s romance started while they were both working on the movie Gigli in 2002. While the 2003 romcom was far from a hit, it did lead to the leads striking up a romance on-set, which led to the couple making their debut in 2002. “We met at a couple of parties. We barely paid any attention to each other,” Jennifer said during a 2003 Dateline interview for the movie. “We became friends first.”
Gigli wasn’t the only movie that the couple made together! The pair also co-starred in the 2004 movie Jersey Girl, which was another box office flop. The movie didn’t come out until March 2004, a few months after the pair had officially split up.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are officially married. ✨ pic.twitter.com/rd2UF5YPrY
— bennifer tea (@jloaffleck) July 17, 2022
During Bennifer’s first time as a couple, they were instant media darlings! They got engaged in late 2002, with Ben popping the question with a PINK ring, worth a reported $2.5 million. Their relationship continued to be a major public interest, with the pair regularly appearing in tabloids. Ben was featured in J.Lo’s video for “Jenny From The Block,” and her This Is Me…Then record featured a number of songs inspired by her fiancé, including “Dear Ben.”
As the pair were preparing to tie the knot in September 2003, they decided to put the wedding on hold. “Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date,” the pair told People in a joint statement. The couple officially split a few months later in January 2004.
After their split, Ben and Jennifer both moved on to different relationships. Both of their marriages after they called off their engagement would be long-lasting for both of the stars! J.Lo married Marc Anthony in June 2004. Jennifer and Marc had twins Max and Emme, both 14, in 2008. The “I’m Real” singer ended up splitting from Marc in 2014. Ben started dating Jennifer Garner in August 2004, and the pair got hitched in 2005. They share three kids: Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10. Ben and the 13 Going On 30 star ended up splitting up in 2018.
After Ben and his wife split up, he had a handful of short-lived romances with producer Lindsay Shookus, model Shauna Sexton and actress Ana de Armas. J.Lo also had a pair of relationships after her split from Marc. She had an on-and-off romance with her backup dancer Casper Smart, and she even got engaged to MLB star Alex Rodriguez, but the pair never made it to the alter!
