Bennifer's billion-dollar divorce: A messy battle over assets, production company profits

The divorce proceedings between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are proving to be a complex and contentious affair, according to TMZ. The absence of a prenuptial agreement means that all assets acquired during their two-year marriage are considered community property, subject to a 50/50 split.   

However, the division of assets is far from straightforward. One of the most valuable assets at stake is Ben Affleck's production company, Artists Equity (AE), which he co-founded with Matt Damon. The company's formation occurred four months after their wedding, placing Ben's stake squarely within the realm of community property. This implies that Jennifer Lopez is entitled to a portion of the profits generated by AE's successful films, including "Air," "Unstoppable," "The Instigators," and upcoming projects like "Small Things Like These" and "The Accountant 2."   

Conversely, Ben would have a financial claim on Jennifer Lopez's projects during their marriage, such as "Atlas," "This Is Me... Now," "The Mother," "Shotgun Wedding," and "Marry Me." The couple also jointly owns a house in Beverly Hills, currently on the market with a $20 million mortgage.

TMZ, who first reported the divorce filing, revealed that the couple has been attempting to negotiate a settlement for months. However, these talks have turned increasingly bitter, with communication between the two reportedly breaking down at times.   

This is Jennifer Lopez's fourth marriage and Ben Affleck's second. Both have children from previous relationships, but none together. The complexities surrounding their shared assets and business ventures suggest that this divorce is likely to be a protracted and highly publicized legal battle.