Twenty-four years ago, the supermarket checkout line looked a lot different. There were no digital wallets or self-scan kiosks—just stacks of glossy magazines competing for your loose change. In November 2002, one face dominated that landscape. Ben Affleck, with his square jaw and that "just-woke-up" squint, was officially crowned Sexiest Man Alive 2002 by People magazine.
It was a choice that felt both inevitable and slightly chaotic.
If you weren't there, it’s hard to describe the sheer velocity of Ben Affleck’s fame in the early 2000s. He wasn't just an actor; he was one half of the original celebrity supernova: "Bennifer." This was the year of the pink diamond, the "Jenny From the Block" music video, and the kind of tabloid saturation that eventually led to the couple postponing their wedding due to "excessive media attention."
Honestly, looking back at the Sexiest Man Alive 2002 issue is like opening a time capsule of a world that was still reeling from the 9/11 attacks while simultaneously obsessing over low-rise jeans and Juicy Couture. Ben Affleck was the 16th man to take the title, following in the footsteps of Pierce Brosnan (2001) and Brad Pitt (2000). But the 2002 crowning felt different because it was so deeply entwined with a specific, high-octane romance.
The Year of Bennifer 1.0
Ben Affleck was 30 years old when he landed that cover. He had already won an Oscar for Good Will Hunting, but in 2002, his career was in a weird, transitional "blockbuster" phase. He was starring in The Sum of All Fears as Jack Ryan and getting ready for the (eventually disastrous) Daredevil.
But people weren't really talking about his acting. They were talking about Jennifer Lopez.
The two met on the set of Gigli (yes, that movie) while Lopez was still married to her second husband, Cris Judd. By the time People was ready to name the Sexiest Man Alive 2002, J.Lo and Ben were the biggest story in the world. Lopez even gave a quote for the issue, famously saying she didn't need a magazine to tell her he was the sexiest, and that he’d still be the sexiest in her eyes when he was 100.
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It’s kinda wild to think about how much pressure that puts on a person. Being the "Sexiest Man Alive" is already a weird mantle to carry, but being the Sexiest Man Alive while your fiancée is the most famous woman on the planet is a whole other level of scrutiny.
What else was in the 2002 issue?
The Sexiest Man Alive 2002 issue wasn't just a Ben Affleck tribute. People had a knack for throwing some truly bizarre names into the mix back then.
Did you know Donald Rumsfeld was in that issue?
Yeah. The Secretary of Defense. At the height of the "War on Terror," People actually labeled him the "Sexiest Cabinet Member." They even mentioned that President George W. Bush called him "Rumstud." It’s one of those cultural artifacts that has aged... let’s just say, interestingly.
The list also included:
- Simon Cowell: This was the first year of American Idol, and the "mean judge" was a brand-new phenomenon.
- Enrique Iglesias: Labeled the "Sexiest Pop Star."
- Hugh Grant: The "Sexiest Import."
- George Clooney: Who was named "Sexiest Director" that year (he had already won the main title in 1997 and would again in 2006).
It was a list that reflected a very specific American mood: a mix of Hollywood escapism and the grim reality of post-9/11 politics.
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Why 2002 was a turning point for the brand
Something happened in 2002 that most people forget. People magazine officially trademarked the phrase "Sexiest Man Alive." They realized that this wasn't just a fun annual list anymore; it was a massive commercial asset.
Before 2002, other magazines could sorta throw the phrase around in their headlines. After Ben Affleck took the title, People started getting protective. They even took legal action against Us Weekly later on for using similar phrasing. They were basically telling the world: "We own the definition of sexy, and we have the paperwork to prove it."
The "Curse" of the 2002 Crown
There’s often talk of a "Sexiest Man Alive" curse, where the winner’s career or personal life takes a hit shortly after the win. For Ben Affleck, 2003 and 2004 were rough. Gigli became a legendary box office bomb. The media turned on "Bennifer" with a ferocity that was genuinely uncomfortable to watch. By 2004, the engagement was off, and Ben was heading into what he later described as a "dark place" in his career.
He eventually pulled off one of the greatest Hollywood comebacks of all time, winning a Best Picture Oscar for Argo and becoming Batman, but the Sexiest Man Alive 2002 era was the peak of his "tabloid" fame—a type of fame he clearly grew to dislike.
Comparing 2002 to Today
If you look at recent winners—guys like Patrick Dempsey (2023) or John Krasinski (2024)—the vibe is much more "wholesome dad" or "distinguished veteran." In 2002, it was all about the "It Boy." It was about the heat of the moment.
Affleck was the quintessential early-2000s star: big movies, big personality, and a very public private life. Today, the magazine seems more careful to pick men who have a "cleaner" image or a long-term legacy. Back then, they just went for whoever was burning the brightest.
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Actionable Insights: What we can learn from the 2002 era
Looking back at the Sexiest Man Alive 2002 isn't just a nostalgia trip; it’s a lesson in how celebrity culture functions. If you're a student of PR or just a pop culture obsessive, here's what to take away:
- The Power of the Narrative: Ben Affleck didn't win just because of his looks; he won because he was part of the "Bennifer" story. Sexiness, in the eyes of the media, is often about the company you keep.
- Timing is Everything: People picks their winners based on the "zeitgeist." In 2002, the world wanted a classic, leading-man type who felt like he belonged on a movie poster.
- Legacy Over Labels: Labels like "Sexiest Man" are fleeting. Affleck’s real success came when he stopped being a "sex symbol" and started being a director and producer.
If you find an old copy of the November 2002 issue in a thrift store or your parents' attic, keep it. It’s a document of a very specific, very loud moment in American history—the year Ben Affleck reigned supreme, Donald Rumsfeld was a "stud," and we all thought Bennifer would last forever.
The next time you're scrolling through celebrity news, remember that the "frenzy" we see today started right here, in the aisles of your local grocery store, with a $3.50 magazine.
To really understand the impact, you should look up the original People cover and compare it to Affleck’s 2021-2022 "Bennifer 2.0" photos. It's a fascinating study in how public perception of the same person can shift over twenty years, from "overexposed tabloid star" to "resilient veteran." The 2002 title was the beginning of a roller coaster that only recently leveled out.
Next Steps for You:
If you're curious about how these selections are made today, you can check out the People archive or look for the "Sexiest Man Alive" podcast episodes that break down the internal voting process at the magazine. It's a lot less scientific than you might think!