> At a Glance
> – Ben Affleck revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live that his 13-year-old son Samuel asked for $100 to bet on sports
> – Affleck shared the story while discussing his father’s past as a small-time bookie
> – The actor recalled how his dad’s gambling earnings once funded family purchases like a VCR and washing machine
> – Why it matters: The story highlights how celebrity parents navigate conversations about money, risk, and discipline with their kids
Ben Affleck got a surprising request from his teenage son – and it wasn’t for video games or sneakers. During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Oscar-winning actor shared how Samuel, 13, asked for $100 to place sports bets, sparking a candid and humorous reflection on parenting, gambling, and family history.
A Teen’s Unusual Request
Affleck, 53, told host Jimmy Kimmel that his son approached him about a month ago with the request.
> “My son asked me like a month ago, [he] was like, ‘Hey, um, can I get like 100 bucks to bet on sports?'”
Affleck said Samuel justified the request by saying, “My friends get $100, but if they lose it, then that’s it.”
The actor joked about the so-called discipline, imagining his son returning desperate for more money: “Like, so that you don’t come twitching back going, ‘I know that Green Bay is going to cover the over in the second half.'”
A Family History with Gambling
The conversation took a nostalgic turn when Affleck revealed that his father, Timothy Byers Affleck, made much of the family’s income as a small-time bookie.
> “I remember our first washing machine, our first VCR… dad coming home like, ‘You can thank Steve Grogan for this,'” Affleck recalled, referencing the former New England Patriots quarterback.
He added:
> “Everybody kept betting on the Patriots to beat the spread… I was really grateful that the Patriots were terrible.”
Affleck acknowledged the stigma at the time:
> “It was, like, shameful and kind of illegal. I mean, the statute of limitations has run out. Sorry, Dad.”
A Sneaker Obsession and Parenting Moments
This wasn’t the first time Samuel’s spending habits made headlines. Earlier in 2025, the teen reportedly spotted a pair of $6,000 Dior Air Force 1s at a sneaker convention.
Affleck joked that Samuel only liked them because they were expensive, but Samuel defended himself, saying:
> “No, they’re tough! I always said they look good.”
Affleck shares Samuel, Violet (20), and Seraphina (17) with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
Key Takeaways
- Ben Affleck‘s son Samuel, 13, asked for $100 to bet on sports, comparing himself to friends who gamble
- Affleck responded with humor, referencing his own father’s past as a bookie
- The actor shared childhood memories of how Patriots losses once funded family appliances
- The moment highlights the challenges of parenting teens in a world where gambling and luxury spending are increasingly normalized
Affleck’s candid retelling blends humor with a glimpse into how he handles parenting in the spotlight – and how his own upbringing shapes those conversations today.
