Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s $68M marital mansion was ‘his idea’ and a ‘major compromise for her’ – as they struggle to offload it amid divorce
According to insiders, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were not entirely on speaking terms when they bought their marital home nearly a year before their eventual divorce.
“The $68 million mansion was Ben’s idea and a big compromise for her,” a source said. People on thursday.
“She agreed to it because of the spacious layout, which would accommodate both families, a gym and pickleball court, office space and two private entrances,” the insider added, noting that the layout was ideal for Ben’s children — Violet, 18; Finn, 15; and Samuel, 12 — and JLo’s 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme.
In May 2023, the couple purchased the Beverly Hills mansion for $60.8 million, but by July 2024, they had already put it on the market, just a month before Lopez, 55, filed for divorce.
According to the outlet’s source, the ultra-modern aesthetic of the 12-bedroom, 24-bathroom mansion, which still hasn’t sold, didn’t exactly suit the Jenny From The Block singer’s style.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck weren’t exactly on the same page when they bought their marital home, with a source telling People on Thursday that the purchase was mostly “Ben’s idea.”
They added that it was “an important compromise for [Lopez].’ The exes bought the home a year before their split (Lopez pictured in May; Affleck in August)
“She loves the romantic, Spanish, European vibe,” they said.
But once they settled in, Ben, 52, wasn’t exactly thrilled with the place either.
The source claimed that Ben found it difficult and time-consuming to manage traffic from his home, since he and his children are based in Brentwood, and that he never liked the location.
The Batman actor has since purchased a new bachelor pad, which cost $20.5 million.
And Jen was spotted this week visiting two stunning properties in Beverly Hills.
Meanwhile, the exes are still trying to sell their sprawling marital home, which the owner says is called Crestview Manor. Zillow Listing.
Last year they bought the estate for $60.85 million, but since then they’ve made significant improvements and are now asking $68 million for it.
Crestview Manor consists of a 3,500 sq. ft. main house with 12 bedrooms and 24 bathrooms, plus a 465 sq. ft. guest apartment, plus a two-bedroom caretaker’s cottage, a caretaker’s cottage and a 12-car garage.
“She agreed because of the spacious layout, which can accommodate both families, a gym and pickleball court, office space and two private entrances,” the insider added, noting that the layout was ideal for housing their children; Lopez pictured in 2023
But once they settled in, Ben, 52, wasn’t exactly thrilled with the place either; pictured in May
Amenities include a bar, fitness room, sports lounge, bar, boxing ring, basketball and pickleball courts, and parking for 80 vehicles.
Ben is now “slowly moving into his new home,” where he wants to be: close to his children and in a neighborhood he loves, a source recently revealed. People.
On July 24, Jennifer’s birthday, he closed escrow on his $20.5 million, five-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Brentwood.
The Argo director raises his three children as friends with his first wife, Jennifer Garner.
While J.Lo and Ben are dividing their assets with the help of celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser, a source told People that their divorce “could potentially end badly” because they did not sign a prenuptial agreement.
The source noted that there are “some financial issues” between the couple, who married at The Little White Chapel in Las Vegas.
Lopez wrote in her divorce filing, which listed the date of separation as April 26, 2024, that their assets were “unknown.”
Under California law, only the income and assets they earned during their short-lived marriage are considered “community property and can be divided.”
The source says Ben found it inconvenient and time-consuming to manage traffic from the house since his life and children revolve around Brentwood, and he never liked the location; seen together in January 2024)
For example, consider the Beverly Hills mansion they bought last year for $60.8 million and a number of projects and sponsorship deals they’ve undertaken since they got married.
They are currently engaged in mediation, a less formal and faster alternative to a traditional divorce.
According to Wagner & Bloch’s website, “divorce mediation is an alternative dispute resolution procedure in which an outside mediator guides a divorcing couple in resolving issues related to property division, child custody, alimony, and other divorce matters.”
In the midst of separation, Jennifer also seems to be doing well. According to a source, she is “still very happy,” despite the “bitterness” surrounding the split.
“She tried so hard to make everything work and Ben didn’t care. She’s surrounded by family, friends and her kids,” the insider told People.
Jennifer and Ben officially split on April 26. On August 20, the actress filed for divorce in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
Shortly after the filing, speculation swirled that Ben was dating RFK Jr.’s daughter Kick Kennedy after they were spotted together in Los Angeles on several outings.
On Wednesday, sources claimed that Jennifer was “very angry” with Ben over rumors that he was “hanging out” with Kick in recent weeks.
However, Ben’s rep strongly denied the reports, telling People: “There’s no truth to it. I don’t know if they even know each other.”
Jennifer and Ben first met on the set of Martin Brest’s 2001 flop Gigli in Los Angeles, but split abruptly just three days before their wedding in 2004.
Lopez, 55, is reportedly looking for new properties (pictured in New York City in July)
Affleck has already moved into a $20 million, five-bedroom home he bought in July (pictured in Los Angeles in June).
They both married others: Jennifer married Marc Anthony in 2004 and Ben tied the knot with Jennifer Garner in 2005.
After breaking up, they got back together in 2021.
The superstar couple first tied the knot in July 2022 at a Las Vegas chapel, followed by a larger ceremony at his Georgia estate the following month.
The couple split earlier this year, reportedly having “planned” their divorce before Jennifer filed on August 20.