Ben Affleck to ‘Live Below the Line’ with Food Budget of $1.50 Per Day

Oscar winner Ben Affleck’s next project is a challenge aimed at raising money and awareness for global poverty. Next week, the star of “Argo” and “Good Will Hunting” is joining thousands of others around the world by living on $1.50 a day.Affleck a long-time charity campaigner - took to Twitter to show his support. "1.4 billion people live on less than $1.50/day. I'm joining Live BelowTheLine on behalf of @easterncongo. Will you?," he tweeted. The challenge is meant to "give a glimpse into the lives of 1.4 billion people who have no choice but to live below the line every day - and who have to make $1.50 cover a lot more than food," according to the organizaton's website.


The purpose of the challenge is to open eyes up to the reality that 1.4 billion of our fellow human beings on earth live below the extreme poverty line, currently estimated by the World Bank to be the equivalent of roughly $1.50 per day in the U.S. Last year, more than 15,000 people participated in the challenge, raising over $3 million in the process. More than 20,000 people are expected to participate this year, and Affleck is not the only celebrity on board.


Jonah Hill, Katie Couric and Justin Bieber's Scooter Braun also tweeted their support for the case, while musician Josh Groban has raised $4,700 so far after commitment to spending just $1.50 per day on food and drink. "In today's world, extreme poverty and inequality are unjustifiable and unfair. Live Below the Line demonstrates the problem in a concrete way, while raising money to address the problem." Thor: The Dark World actor Tom Hiddleston posted a video of himself on his fifth day of the challenge. The clip shows Tom in his kitchen with a simple baked potato for lunch. He also tweeted his meals throughout the challenge, which included boiled rice with vegetables, and an omelette with kidney beans. "Profoundly aware that to live truly #belowtheline I would have to forego many & various privileges" he tweeted in April, adding, "To live truly #belowtheline I would have to surrender the roof over my head, gas, electricity, and clean, running water."


A couple of weeks ago, it was announced that this year’s participants would include singer Josh Groban, actress Sophia Bush, and celebrity chefs Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos. This won’t be the first time Groban takes on the challenge. “Taking on this challenge last year was such a humbling experience for me, and I was so proud and heartened by my fans that joined me,” Groban said in a released statement. He even wrote a song inspired by the challenge for his new album. “I wanted to capture this in Below the Line, which was inspired by this experience. It’s amazing how much we take for granted not having to live in hunger, and I am honored to have been asked to help spread the word about this eye-opening campaign again this year.”


A set of guidelines advises celebrities and everyday people how to take part in the challenge and not cheat. Your total five-day food bill shouldn’t go over $7.50, and you’re not supposed to rummage through the pantry for snacks, unless you factor how much the items cost into your total. Drinking lots of tap water is advised, and there’s no need to calculate how much it costs or add that into your budget