A month after “The Rip” debuted on Netflix, the buzz around Ben Affleck and Matt Damon has hardly cooled. The longtime collaborators have evolved from co-writers of “Good Will Hunting” into powerhouse producers behind Artists Equity, all while maintaining lucrative acting careers. Between superhero salaries, Bourne-level franchise earnings, directing fees, and backend profits, both have built staggering fortunes. The real question in 2026 is which of the two Boston natives has quietly pulled ahead.
A Battle of Bank Accounts: The 2026 Breakdown
According to the latest data from Celebrity Net Worth and Parade, Matt Damon currently holds the financial lead with an estimated net worth of $170 million.
Source: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM
Damon’s wealth has been bolstered by a remarkably consistent bankable status; as noted by Forbes, he remains one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, leveraging massive paydays in recent years for projects like “Oppenheimer” and “Air.” His strategy often involves taking significant backend points on high-budget films, a move that has historically paid off better than a flat upfront fee.
Ben Affleck, while legendary in his own right, follows slightly behind with an estimated net worth of $150 million. Despite a lower total net worth than Damon, Affleck often commands a higher per-movie salary—frequently hitting the $15 million mark compared to Damon’s typical $10 million base. However, industry analysts suggest that Affleck’s wealth has seen more fluctuation due to his high-profile directorial efforts and his focus on the administrative growth of their production company.
Their work with Artists Equity continues to reshape how deals are structured in Hollywood. As detailed by The Hollywood Reporter, the duo negotiated a performance based bonus arrangement with Netflix for “The Rip” that shares profits with the entire cast and crew. Now that the film has been streaming for a month, early indicators suggest it could follow the strong performance of their previous collaborations, positioning both Damon and Affleck for a sizable 2026 windfall that may once again shift the balance of who holds the richer title.
