Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner agree to divorce
Kevin Costner and his former wife Christine Baumgartner have agreed to a divorce settlement after a months-long court battle.
“Kevin and Christine Costner have reached an amicable and amicable resolution of all issues related to their divorce proceedings,” a representative for Costner and Baumgartner told the Times in a statement on Tuesday. The details of the settlement were not initially disclosed. Costner’s lawyer Laura Wasser, whose clients include Britney Spears and Kim Kardashian, did not respond to requests for comment.
Baumgartner filed for divorce in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in May, seeking an end to her 18-year marriage to Costner. Both requested joint custody of their three children – Cayden (16), Hayes (14) and Grace (13). Despite their prenuptial agreement, a contentious legal battle ensued, with the two arguing in court over how much Costner would pay in child support.
In a May court filing obtained by NBC NewsBaumgartner ordered the “Yellowstone” star to pay $248,000 a month in child support to cover her children’s private schooling and health care costs, among other things. The former fashion designer noted that Costner makes millions and that she has been a stay-at-home mom since the birth of her first son and currently has no income.
Costner’s lawyer countered that the star owed $63,000 each month Insider. The judge agreed and ordered the actor to pay this amount. The outlet also reported that Costner gave Baumgartner $300,000 in July to cover attorney and expert fees. She requested an additional $800,000 to cover further expenses.
In July, a judge had to order Baumgartner to leave the family’s Carpinteria beach property after she refused to do so. Costner had set aside $200,000 to cover moving costs, as outlined in the prenuptial agreement, and offered to pay for additional costs, they said NBC News. The prenuptial agreement also stipulated that she had to leave her home within 30 days of the separation.
Baumgartner and Costner allegedly Costner first met on a golf course in the 1990s while rehearsing for his role in the 1996 film “Tin Cup.” The actor was married to his first wife at the time and only started dating Baumgartner in 1999.
The couple briefly separated in 2003 — Baumgartner wanted to have children and Costner wasn’t sure about having more — but the two eventually made it work, tying the knot in Aspen, Colorado, in 2004 and getting married the next year three children for several years.
This is the second divorce for the 68-year-old Costner. The Dances With Wolves star was previously married to Cindy Silva. Their 16-year marriage ended in 1994 and according to ForbesThe divorce was one of the most expensive in Hollywood history, with Silva receiving a settlement estimated at $80 million.
Times staff writers Carlos De Loera and Emily St. Martin contributed to this report.
