Matt Damon revealed that he and Ben Affleck were broke just one year after selling their screenplay for Good Will Hunting for $600,000. The 55-year-old actor discussed the early financial struggle during an interview on the New Heights podcast hosted by Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce earlier this year.
Damon explained that selling the script felt like an overwhelming sum of money at the time. "So, we sold the screenplay for $600,000 which was just... so much more money than either of us had ever considered," Damon told the hosts.
Damon shared that he and Affleck split the total payout, but taxes and industry fees quickly reduced their actual earnings. "But after taxes and agents and lawyer and all that stuff..." Damon said, revealing they ultimately pocketed under $150,000 each.
"The first thing we did was buy brand new Jeep Grand Cherokees," Damon recalled. He added that living expenses in Los Angeles rapidly burned through their remaining cash.
"And we were renting this place in L.A. and you know, it didn't take long for us to be like, 'Dude, we gotta get another job,'" Damon said. He noted that they believed selling the film would secure their financial future, but they were broke a year later.
When Jason Kelce asked if they were really broke, Damon laughed and clarified, "Yeah. I mean, not broke broke..." Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Damon for comment, but has yet to hear back.
Screenplay Origin and Primal Fear Rejection
Last month in July, Damon reflected on how losing a major role in the crime thriller Primal Fear inspired him and Affleck to write Good Will Hunting. Speaking to Tom Holland on Complex's GOAT Talk show, Damon described the audition loss as a key turning point.
"It was actually a real impetus behind us writing Good Will Hunting," Damon explained. He had tried to land a role in the film, which starred Richard Gere and Laura Linney.
Edward Norton ultimately won the part. "Edward beat out everybody, and as he should have, he was phenomenal in the movie," Damon said.
Damon recalled how he and Affleck realized they could not rely on open casting calls. "And [Ben and I] looked at each other, and we were like, there's never gonna be a role that good that comes down into the category of unknown actor, and we all can take a shot at it, but it's, you know, 10,000 people going for this one thing," Damon said.
"So we really buckled down and wrote Good Will Hunting a little more desperately," Damon added. He emphasized that writing became necessary to advance their careers, stating, "Out of necessity, it's very, very hard to break in, as you know. The hardest jobs to get are the first ones you get."
Good Will Hunting Release and Award Recognition
Good Will Hunting was released in 1997, with Damon and Affleck writing the screenplay and starring in major roles. The drama film was directed by Gus Van Sant.
The cast included Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgard, and the late Robin Williams. According to IMDB, the movie follows a therapist who counsels Will Hunting, a janitor with a genius IQ.
The project was a major commercial success, earning about $225 million at the box office on a budget between $10 million and $16 million.
Good Will Hunting received nine Academy Award nominations. It won the Oscar for Best Screenplay for Damon and Affleck, while Williams won Best Supporting Actor.
Damon and Affleck have maintained a decades-long friendship and business partnership. They launched their production company, Artists Equity, in 2022 and have collaborated on films including The Last Duel in 2021, Air in 2023, and The Rip in 2026.
The Odyssey Premiere and Family Appearance in Seoul
Damon is currently starring in Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey, which opened in United States theaters on July 17. The movie has earned about $911 million at the global box office over three weekends, according to Variety.
Earlier this week on Tuesday, Damon traveled to South Korea to attend the Seoul premiere of The Odyssey. He was joined on the red carpet by his wife, Luciana, and their daughters Gia, 17, and Stella, 15.
The couple, who married in 2005, are also parents to 20-year-old daughter Isabella and eldest daughter Alexia, whom Luciana welcomed from a previous relationship. Both Isabella and Alexia appeared to be absent from the Seoul screening.
Damon wore a brown suit for the event, while Luciana wore a blue gown. The couple posed for photos on the red carpet and made hearts with their hands for the cameras. Damon was also seen in New York City in January and July.
