Kevin Costner’s divorce from Kristen Baumgartner made headlines in 2023.
This is controversial. This is a lawsuit. Some of these numbers are simply unbelievable.
Thankfully, this ugly battle is over. But rumors of Kevin Costner and Kristen Baumgartner’s divorce persist.
What happened? How did this happen? Who “wins” in court?
In May 2023, Christine Baumgartner filed for divorce
According to court documents, Kevin Costner and Kristen Baumgartner actually broke up a month before the filing.
Later in May, Costner filed a formal response to her divorce filing.
It was there that he brought up the couple’s prenuptial agreement. This eventually led to their divorce, adding to the drama of their contentious split.
‘Yellowstone’ played role in Kevin Costner and Kristen Baumgartner’s divorce
Many of us have parents or grandparents who were yellowstone park. But for Kristen Baumgartner, the show — which had multiple schedule delays — kept her husband away from their family for long periods of time. (Guys, it took a lot longer to film the episode than to watch it)
The second half of season five and yellowstone parkHis final season meant he was away from home for longer than he expected.
The theme is yellowstone park Comes up when discussing finances and child support. Costner’s attorneys claimed at one point that he would be unable to pay the required child support due to his reduced income since leaving the show. Baumgartner’s attorney noted that even after leaving the show, he remained a profit participant.
Apparently they were fighting over money
As divorce kicks off in 2023, Kevin Costner accuses Christine Baumgartner of withdrawing tens of thousands of dollars from his bank account to pay divorce attorneys fees and hiring a forensic accountant.
Apparently, that’s why he lowered her credit card limit to $30,000 a month.
Considering how wealthy the family is, each number is huge. It’s normal for divorcing couples to withdraw or transfer funds – what matters is whether they have the right to do so, and whether they are depriving their ex (or children) of vital funds to live, eat and (yes) pay their bills.
Kevin Costner and Kristen Baumgartner in hot water over marital home
During their 2023 divorce battle, Costner claimed that his now-estranged wife refused to abide by their prenuptial agreement. Apparently the agreement was that she would vacate the property within 30 days.
Although Costner is apparently willing to pay for rent and moving expenses. However, Baumgartner’s attorneys argued in court documents that he did not actually have the legal right to kick her and their children out of the home.
Christine Baumgartner asked to stay at the property until August of that year. She tried to find a home that would be suitable for her children. However, the court denied her request and she moved out in July, just days before the court-ordered move-out date. She and Costner still feud over how many pots and pans she carries with her.
Most notoriously, their divorce included a child support battle
In June 2023, Christine Baumgartner reportedly requested $248,000 per month in child support. She argued in court documents that even full compensation would mean a decline in the lifestyle the children were accustomed to. She requested several specific payments for the children, but there was no request for spousal support in the document.
Court documents say Costner earns about $1.537 million a month. He is a prolific actor who has been famous for decades and, of course, continues to work. Costner protests that he’s making less money now that he’s no longer acting yellowstone park.
Ultimately, the family court ordered Costner to pay Baumgartner $129,755 per month in child support. He also must pay more than six figures in various costs, including attorney fees. Couples must contribute equally to certain expenses of the child, including health care and sports expenses. A judge later significantly reduced Costner’s monthly child support payments to $63,209.
Kevin Costner’s divorce money fight continues
Kevin Costner reportedly earned $19,517,064 in 2022. Household expenses for that year decreased to $6,645,285. This means everything from maintaining a home to your children’s education to medical expenses and more.
Meanwhile, Costner allegedly deposited money into one of Baumgartner’s accounts, a move she claimed was a scam — designed to undermine her in court.
Kevin Costner counters in June 2023 that Christine Baumgartner spent 60% of her child support on personal expenses, like her own personal trainer . Divorce disputes can be so controversial!
Is Christine Baumgartner getting together with their ex-neighbor?
Amid news of Kevin Costner’s initial divorce, Kristen Baumgartner was rumored to be with Daniel Starr, a former tenant at their Santa Barbara property.
Starr refutes the rumor himself TMZstating that he had vacated the property. Costner and Baumgartner were his landlords, nothing more.
In fact, he moved out before his lease was up. One imagines that he wanted to escape the drama of agency. Kristen did continue to date, but not as her tenant.
Did Kevin Costner tell their kids about their divorce over Zoom?
According to Kristen Baumgartner, Kevin Costner revealed the news of his divorce to his children via video chat. She wishes she could talk to the children face to face.
“He insisted that he had the right to tell them ‘first’ that we were getting a divorce and to tell them privately ‘without my presence,'” Baumgartner alleged in court documents. “After a 24-year relationship, Kevin told our three children we were getting divorced over a 10-minute Zoom call in a hotel room in Las Vegas without me being present.”
He had planned to return home in five days. Baumgartner was confused as to why he broke the news the way he did.
Kristen Baumgartner and Kevin Costner divorce case resolved
In September 2023, Kevin Costner and Kristen Baumgartner resolved their painful divorce. The terms were worked out after four months of intense and dramatic court battles, and they have been kept (mostly) secret.
Then, in February 2024, the marriage officially ended. The court eventually ruled that they were divorced.
