In Hollywood, the biggest post-divorce move is not a flashy outfit or a new relationship. It is changing up your business interests.
Nearly two years after their 2024 split, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are still sorting out the details of their separation.
Looking at their recent choices, there is an interesting, almost ironic connection. Lopez is trying to sell off her huge real estate holdings and is returning to bold comedy roles, while Affleck is making a fortune as a tech entrepreneur.
Right in the middle of their high-stakes divorce, one company is funding both of their next chapters: Netflix.
The Burden of a Beverly Hills White Elephant
To move on, those involved have to let go of the past. For Lopez, that means selling her massive 38,000-square-foot Beverly Hills home, which has become a real estate burden.
She first listed the five-acre property for $68 million in August 2024. It has 12 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, a boxing ring, and a pickleball court, with yearly property taxes topping $1 million.
After cutting the price several times and taking it off the market twice when it did not sell for $52 million, the mansion is up for sale again, now listed at about $50 million.
It is a lot to handle, and it shows the contrast: Lopez is trying to let go of her huge house while also finding new energy by taking on different roles in her career.
Raunchy Returns and CEO Contrasts
Now comes Office Romance, which premieres on Netflix on June 5. The film brings Lopez back to romantic comedies, but with a more mature twist.
Brett Goldstein, known from Ted Lasso, co-wrote and stars in the movie. He and co-writer Joe Kelly designed the story with Lopez in mind, aiming to make it funny and clever enough for her to want the role.
Directed by Ol Parker, the movie features Lopez as Jackie Cruz, a strict, hard-working CEO who breaks her own no-dating rules for her new employee, played by Goldstein. Parker has hinted that this story goes further than what fans usually expect from Lopez’s earlier romantic comedies.
But that’s where the similarities between Lopez and her character stop. In real life, Lopez runs JLo Beauty and Nuyorican Productions, but she says she is not as focused on work as Jackie is. She values keeping boundaries for her family and friends. At the moment, her idea of balance means carefully managing her career with Netflix while sorting out her personal finances.
The Streaming Giant Subsidizing the Split
This is where the story takes a modern turn. While Lopez is earning a big paycheck from Netflix for Office Romance, Affleck also made a huge deal with the same company. He sold his AI tech startup, InterPositive, to Netflix for about $600 million.
This big payout let Affleck, who directed Argo, quickly separate himself from their shared real estate. Soon after selling his company, he gave his share of the Beverly Hills mansion to Lopez. So, when the house finally sells, Lopez will get all the money.
This all means something important: Netflix’s money is, in a way, helping to fund their divorce. By buying Affleck’s AI company, Netflix gave him the cash he needed to leave behind a big shared responsibility. At the same time, they are supporting Lopez’s new creative projects.
It is interesting to see how these two stars are protecting their legacies in different ways. Affleck is moving into the tech world, leaving behind directing and real estate. Lopez is sticking to what she knows best: working hard. She is dealing with the challenge of selling a huge house while showing everyone why she is still the queen of romantic comedies.
On screen, she might play a CEO who lets go for love, but in real life, Jennifer Lopez is still in charge—even if selling the house takes a few attempts.
