Ben Affleck may be a millionaire, but he still teaches his kids about money. Recently, he turned down his 13-year-old son Samuel’s request for a $6,000 pair of sneakers.
Affleck Opens Up About the Incident
During an appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends, Ben talked about a viral moment that caught public attention. In that clip, he was seen reacting to Samuel’s interest in $6,000 Dior Air Force Ones.
At that moment, Ben made it clear he wouldn’t buy them. He recalled, “He wanted these sneakers, and I was like, ‘These sneakers are $6,000, what are you talking about? What are you gonna do, mow lawns? You got $6,000? He was like, “We have the money.” I was like, “I have the money! You’re broke.”
Despite Wealth, He Insists Kids Must Earn It
Furthermore, Ben explained that he wants his kids to understand the value of hard work. He said he loves them and wants to provide for them. However, he believes doing everything for them would do more harm than good.
He said, “You love your kids. You want to give them everything and do everything for them, but I think you definitely do them a disservice by not connecting (if) you want something that you want, you have to work for that.”
In fact, Ben mentioned that his older children are already working. One recently got a job in a shop, while the other, who is in college, is trying to get a summer internship.
Meanwhile, Samuel is just starting to realize that luxury comes with effort. Ben added, “He’s reckoning with that reality right now. He’s looking at no shoes in his closet. Well, he’s got shoes, just no crazy expensive fancy shoes. And I’m like, ‘Well, if you want that, you can work 1,000 hours.’ You know what I mean? Minimum wage. And once you work 1,000 hours, you may not want to spend that on a pair of sneakers.”
Viral Video Sparked Conversation on Parenting
Earlier this year, Ben took Samuel to a sneaker convention in Los Angeles. During that visit, Samuel noticed the $6,000 Dior Air Jordans and asked for them.
But Ben didn’t give in. Instead, he joked, “That’s a lot of lawns you’ve gotta mow there. You just like those because they’re expensive.”
As a result, the clip went viral on social media. It led to a wider conversation about parenting, privilege, and how to raise kids with good money values—especially when you’re wealthy.
