Jennifer Garner Explained: What Really Happened with Her Two Marriages

Jennifer Garner Explained: What Really Happened with Her Two Marriages

Jennifer Garner is basically the person we all want to be friends with. She’s America’s sweetheart, the master of the "Pretend Cooking Show," and somehow makes being a high-profile Hollywood mom look… normal? But for a woman who seems so open, people are still constantly asking the same question: how many times has Jennifer Garner been married?

She’s been married twice.

📖 Related: Thomas Doherty Gay Rumors: What the Gossip Girl Star Actually Said

That’s the short answer. But the longer story is way more human. It’s a story about growing up in the spotlight, "imploding" under the weight of sudden fame, and trying to keep a family together while the world watches your husband on every tabloid cover. It isn't just about a count; it's about the very real lessons she's shared about love along the way.

The Scott Foley Years: A "Fast-Lane" Lesson

Most people forget about the first one. Before there was "Bennifer 2.0," there was Jen and Scott Foley. They met in 1998 on the set of Felicity. She was a guest star; he was the guy every girl in the late 90s had a crush on.

They got married in October 2000. Garner was 28. Honestly, she’s been pretty candid lately about how that might have been too young. In some of her more recent reflections, she mentioned that she wished she’d waited until she was at least 30 to walk down the aisle.

The marriage lasted less than three years. They split in March 2003, right around the time Garner’s career was absolutely exploding thanks to Alias.

Why did they split?

It wasn't some scandalous affair. Garner has often blamed the "Hollywood" effect. She once famously said that if they had lived in her hometown in West Virginia, they’d probably still be married. Scott Foley has echoed that, saying she became a "huge star" and their lives just went in different directions.

📖 Related: Mila Kunis Hottest Pics: Why Her Style Evolution Still Rules the Red Carpet

  • Marriage Date: October 19, 2000
  • Separation Date: March 23, 2003 (The day of the Oscars—she went alone)
  • Finalized: 2004

There was no drama, no messy court battles. Just two people who "didn't have a shot" against the sudden pressure of A-list fame.

The Ben Affleck Era: 10 Years and a "Hard" Ending

Then came Ben. They met on the set of Pearl Harbor in 2000 but didn't actually start dating until 2004. By June 2005, they were married in a tiny, private ceremony in the Turks and Caicos. It was just the two of them and Victor Garber (her Alias dad) officiating.

This was the big one. They were together for a decade. They had three kids: Violet, Seraphina (now Fin), and Samuel.

For years, they were the "golden couple." They did school runs, went to church, and seemed to have figured out how to be famous without being "Hollywood." But behind the scenes, things were complicated. Affleck has been open about his struggles with alcoholism, and Garner has been described as the "rock" who held everything together—even after they split.

The 2015 Breakup

They announced their separation in June 2015, just one day after their tenth anniversary. That timing? Brutal.

The divorce wasn't finalized until 2018. Why the long wait? Because they actually tried to make it work. They went to therapy, they vacationed together, and they even lived on the same property for a while to keep things stable for the kids.

Garner recently described the split as "hard," specifically because of the "breaking up of a family." She wasn't just losing a husband; she was losing a partnership. It took a long time to untangle those lives.

Where is Jennifer Garner Now? (2026 Update)

If you’re looking for a third marriage, you won't find one yet. Since 2018, Jen has been in a very low-key, on-and-off (mostly on) relationship with John Miller. He’s the CEO of CaliGroup.

The coolest thing about this relationship? He’s not a celebrity. He’s a tech guy who stays out of the limelight. People close to her say she loves that he doesn't care about the "scene." They’ve been spotted looking happy at events as recently as the 2026 Golden Globes, but there’s no ring yet.

Garner seems perfectly content with where she is. She’s even joked about her mom’s advice: "Never marry a man thinking you can change him." It’s a mantra she seems to be living by these days.

Lessons from the Garner Playbook

Looking at her history, Garner has basically given us a masterclass in "conscious uncoupling" before that was even a buzzword.

📖 Related: Ashton Kutcher Hair: What Most People Get Wrong

  1. Wait until 30: Her own words—give yourself time to grow up first.
  2. The kids come first: She and Ben are still seen at soccer games and school events together in 2026. They are co-parenting goals.
  3. Privacy is a choice: Her relationship with John Miller proves you can be a superstar and still keep your private life private.

Actionable Insight for You:
If you're going through a transition yourself, take a page from Jen’s book. Prioritize the long-term health of the family over short-term bitterness. Whether you've been married once, twice, or never, focusing on your own "responsibility for happiness"—as Jen calls it—is the only way to move forward without looking back.

Keep an eye on her Instagram or her "Once Upon a Farm" projects. She’s busy living her best life, and honestly? We love that for her.