Ben Affleck Matt Damon friendship The Rip: The Secret to Surviving Hollywood for 30 Years

In an industry built on ego and scarcity, Hollywood's most famous duo is proving that a shared bank account and a lack of competition might be the ultimate career hack. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have reunited for their 15th on-screen collaboration in Netflix’s The Rip, getting candid about why they’ve never let fame tear them apart.

Inside the Ben Affleck Matt Damon friendship and The Rip

According to an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the pair—who met at ages 8 and 10—attributed their longevity to a "non-competitive" mindset. Affleck explained that they didn't start their careers in a "zero-sum-game way." While most actors view another's success as a personal loss, these two looked at it as a practical victory for the home team.

A Rare Frame of Reference in a Changing World

Damon noted that when they moved to L.A. in their 20s, the lack of rivalry was a matter of survival. "If I didn't get the part, I really needed him to get it because we needed to pay the rent," he joked. Beyond finances, Affleck emphasized that having someone who shares the same "basic frame of reference" from childhood makes navigating the "weirdness" of global fame much more manageable.

In their new crime thriller The Rip, now streaming on Netflix, they play Miami cops who find millions in drug money. The film, directed by Joe Carnahan, tests their fictional relationship—a stark contrast to their real-life bond.