Inside the Untold Story of Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner's Divorce: Secrets of their Shared Home, Child Support, and Beyond

Kevin Costner, Christine Baumgartner. Hahn Lionel/ABACA/Shutterstock

Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner's divorce began on a tumultuous note. The couple had been married since September 2004, but after almost 19 years together, Baumgartner filed for divorce in May 2023. The reason for their separation was cited as irreconcilable differences.

"It is with deep sadness that circumstances beyond his control have unfolded, leading Mr. Costner to be involved in a divorce proceeding," a representative for Costner stated to TMZ. "During this challenging time, we kindly request that the privacy of Mr. Costner, Christine, and their children be respected as they navigate through this difficult period."

Costner and Baumgartner first crossed paths on a golf course in the 1990s while he was preparing for his role as a professional golfer in the 1996 film Tin Cup. After his separation from his former wife Cindy Silva in 1994, with whom he has children Annie, Lily, and Joe, Costner began a relationship with the California native in 1999. They later welcomed sons Cayden and Hayes, as well as a daughter named Grace. (Additionally, the actor from Molly's Game also has a son named Liam with his ex-partner Bridget Rooney.)

After more than ten years of marriage, Costner revealed in an interview with Closer Weekly in June 2018 that he and Baumgartner had experienced a brief separation before their wedding. Costner admitted that his fear had prevented him from marrying Baumgartner, as she desired to have a child and he was apprehensive about his ability to be a good father. However, he had a moment of realization when he woke up one day and realized that he could potentially lose a wonderful woman who was willing to be by his side until the end simply because he was afraid of embracing fatherhood. This revelation made him understand that sometimes the very thing one is most afraid of can actually end up being a life-saving decision.

Due to a devastating flood in California, the couple was unable to attend the 2023 Golden Globes, where Costner won the esteemed award for Best Television Actor in a Drama Series. This unfortunate incident occurred just before their separation.

In a January 2023 Instagram video, the star of Dances with Wolves expressed his sadness at not being able to attend the Golden Globes. He mentioned how he was looking forward to walking down the red carpet with his wife, who had a beautiful dress. Despite his divorce filing, Costner was deeply affected by the breakup and was determined to save his marriage. According to an insider, he was profoundly saddened by the situation and considered it his worst nightmare. His love for his wife and children compelled him to do anything for his family.

A second insider disclosed that the actor from Hidden Figures was caught off guard by the separation, stating that it was surprising because everyone believed Kevin and his wife were extremely happy. The source added that he genuinely loves her and is making efforts to win her back.

On the other hand, Baumgartner was going through a range of emotions. Another source informed Us in June 2023 that Christine believes Kevin should be the one to leave. Despite their prenuptial agreement stating that she has 30 days to vacate the property, she has decided to stay in their shared home. The source explained that she is furious with Kevin for prioritizing work over their family, which she believes led to the demise of their marriage.

Scroll below for all the details on Costner and Baumgartner’s ongoing divorce:

Christine Files for Divorce

Amidst reports of their separation, the handbag designer was photographed without her wedding ring in Los Angeles, as shown in pictures obtained by the Daily Mail.

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The Fight Over ‘Yellowstone’

According to an insider in May 2023, Yellowstone's schedule delays greatly affected Christine and caused him to miss valuable time with his family. The Paramount+ series, which first aired in 2018, was even cited as one of the reasons for their separation.

The source further revealed that Kevin, who initially had reservations about taking on the show, had to be convinced to be a part of the project. Prior to making his decision, there were extensive discussions involving Kevin and his family, as he did not want to proceed without their input.

According to an insider, the delays in the second half of Yellowstone's fifth and final season caused significant issues between the estranged spouses. The source mentioned that Kevin's team even inquired about relocating the show to California to accommodate certain scenes for him. This discussion has been ongoing for years but has never come to fruition. Kevin has been putting in a considerable amount of effort to find a solution that works for his family.

In June 2023 court documents, Baumgartner reportedly stated that she did not exert any pressure on Kevin to leave the Yellowstone show.

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Money Woes

In June 2023, court documents obtained by Us revealed that Costner accused his estranged wife of secretly withdrawing a sum of $95,000 from his bank account and making charges on his credit card. These funds were allegedly intended for payment to her divorce attorneys and forensic accountant, and Costner claimed to have been unaware of these transactions since April 2023, stating that he did not provide his consent.

The Fight for Their Home

In June 2023, Costner filed legal documents claiming that Baumgartner was refusing to leave their shared home, despite the prenuptial agreement specifying that she had 30 days to vacate after their separation. Costner alleged that Baumgartner was using the situation as leverage to make him comply with various financial demands. He acknowledged his willingness to contribute $30,000 per month for a rental house as part of his child support obligations, along with an additional $10,000 for her moving expenses.

Baumgartner's lawyer, John Rydell, countered in court documents obtained by Insider that Costner does not possess any legal right to force her out of the home. Rydell stated that while there is virtually no legal basis for Costner's request, the matter remains of utmost importance for Christine. This statement was made in June 2023.

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Child Support

Baumgartner allegedly demanded $248,000 per month in child support, claiming in a legal document that this amount "falls short of what is required to sustain the children's accustomed way of life."

Furthermore, Baumgartner asked Costner to bear the full financial responsibility for their children's private school education, healthcare costs, and expenses related to extracurricular activities and sports. However, there was no mention of any requests for spousal support.