Ben Affleck Left Speechless by 13-Year-Old Son’s Bizarre Financial Request

Ben Affleck has faced down Gotham City villains and directed Oscar-winning thrillers, but nothing prepared him for the curveball recently thrown by his youngest child. During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the actor revealed a conversation with his 13-year-old son, Samuel, that left him equal parts amused and bewildered. The topic wasn’t video games or allowance for chores, but something far more adult: sports betting.

Affleck told the late-night host that Samuel casually approached him with a specific financial proposal. The teenager asked for $100, but not for the latest sneakers or a video game skin. When Affleck inquired about the money’s purpose, Samuel candidly admitted he wanted to place bets on sporting events. The request caught the actor completely off guard, highlighting just how quickly his children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner are growing up.

What surprised Affleck even more was the logic Samuel applied to the request. The 13-year-old explained that many of his friends receive a similar “bankroll” from their parents with a strict stipulation: once the $100 is gone, there is no refill. Samuel presented this as a lesson in budgeting and risk management, suggesting that this “one-and-done” policy would prevent him from chasing losses.

Affleck recounted the interaction with his signature dry wit, joking about the absurdity of a teenager claiming to have the discipline of a seasoned gambler. He sarcastically mimicked the idea of his son promising not to come back “twitching” for more cash because he was sure the Green Bay Packers would cover the spread in the second half. While the actor didn’t explicitly say whether he handed over the cash, his reaction suggested a mix of parental concern and disbelief at the boldness of the ask.

The conversation took a nostalgic turn as Affleck connected his son’s interest in gambling to his own childhood. He shared anecdotes about his father, who worked as a bartender and a “small-time bookie” in Massachusetts. Affleck recalled how household appliances, like their first VCR, often appeared courtesy of the New England Patriots losing games. Because local fans would consistently bet on the Patriots to win despite the team’s poor performance at the time, his father would profit, buying the family new gadgets with the earnings.

Beyond his adventures in parenting, Affleck remains one of the busiest figures in Hollywood. He is currently gearing up for the release of The Accountant 2, the highly anticipated sequel to his 2016 action-thriller. Affleck reprises his role as Christian Wolff, an autistic forensic accountant with a lethal set of skills. The film also sees the return of Jon Bernthal and J.K. Simmons, promising to expand on the complex world established in the first movie.

In addition to acting, Affleck continues to make waves behind the scenes through Artists Equity, the production company he co-founded with longtime friend and collaborator Matt Damon. The duo is reportedly working on a new thriller titled RIP, which has already generated significant buzz in the industry. Despite the intense media scrutiny surrounding his recent high-profile separation from Jennifer Lopez, Affleck has kept his public focus on his professional projects and his dedication to co-parenting his three children, Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.

We want to hear your take on this modern parenting dilemma—do you think 13 is too young to learn the hard lessons of sports betting, or was Samuel’s proposal actually quite mature?

Tell us what you think in the comments.