The marriage of Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner, which lasted for 18 years, has finally reached its conclusion, and things are getting nasty. On September 25, 2004, Costner and Baumgartner were married in a picture-perfect ceremony that took place on his property in Aspen, Colorado. Baumgartner was Kevin’s second wife after his first marriage ended in divorce. In 1978, he wed for the first time Cindy Silva. In 1994, they parted ways. The couple has been together for a long time and has three children together: Annie, who was born in 1984, Lily, who was born in 1986, and Joe Costner, who was born in 1988. Liam Costner, who is now 27 years old, is Kevin’s son from a prior relationship in which he was involved with Bridget Rooney.
Kevin and Baumgartner embarked into an emotional rollercoaster as they began the process of settling the terms of their divorce on May 1, 2023, the day after Kevin filed for divorce from Baumgartner. Shortly after filing for divorce, Kevin asked for joint custody of his three children: Grace, 13, Hayes, 14, and Cayden Costner, 16. Grace is the oldest of the three children. Hayes is the middle kid. Cayden is the oldest. Baumgartner also requested shared parental responsibilities.
“It is with great regret that Mr. Costner has been forced to take part in a proceeding for the dissolution of his marriage as a consequence of events that were beyond his control. A representative of Kevin’s stated in a statement, “We ask that his, Christine’s, and their children’s privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time.”
Before finally getting married, the couple dated one other on and off for a number of years. The actor well known for his role in “JFK” said that his anxiety prevented him from making a commitment to Baumgartner.
“My fear prevented me from getting married to Christine. “I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to be an effective father,” Kevin was quoted as saying by US Weekly. “(She) wanted a child, but I was afraid…”
Continue reading to find out more about Kevin and Baumgartner’s divorce, as well as how it has impacted both of them in the years after it took place.
Kevin and Baumgartner had spent the most of their time together as a married couple living on their expansive Colorado ranch. The home in Aspen, Colorado, which the couple owned, was intended to serve as a luxurious retreat amid the Rocky Mountains. The 160-acre property, which has been given the name “Dunbar Ranch,” is comprised of three residential structures, the largest of which spans 5,800 square feet and has six bedrooms in addition to six baths. There is a combined total of 6,000 square feet of usable area between the lake house and the river house. This space has the capacity to accommodate up to 34 people.
In recent years, the actor who played Robin Hood in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” had repeatedly and publicly praised his wife for everything that she had accomplished.
“What we do for one another and how we interact with our respective families has really brought into sharp relief the nature of our connection…. You just need to go with the flow of things in our home, which is like to a river. And whatever you thought it was going to be, maybe it still can, but it’s going to have to work with what the day delivers,” he told People Magazine in 2020. “And whatever you imagined it was going to be, maybe it still can.”
In November of 2022, he continued to speak positively of Baumgartner to the same publication.
“There are certain things that my wife does that are simply… Simply said, it is useful. Because of her, the home now has a more elegant appearance. Because of her, everything has a cozier feeling. He went on to say that “there are these little things that she does, and I think it’s the power of love, but that she makes her home that way.”
In 2012, he had also revealed to Parade the key to maintaining a healthy marriage and had remarked, “Maybe it’s the capacity to say you’re sorry. I am aware that this may seem to be quite basic. On the other hand, as many relationship manuals and couples all over the globe will tell you, apologizing is often the most difficult chore.
Unfortuitously for them, their marriage ran into some difficulties, which ultimately led to the beginning of the divorce process.
In May of 2023, a story from TMZ said that Baumgartner had ended her marriage to the well-known actor. On May 1, 2023, she submitted the necessary paperwork to begin the divorce process, putting an end to their 18-year marriage. It is yet unknown why the pair decided to end their relationship.
The same report from the publication also stated that there was a prenuptial agreement in place before the marriage, as Baumgartner was apparently not seeking any spousal support other than wanting shared custody of their children. The prenuptial agreement was also disclosed in the same story. Kevin has also put in a request for something somewhat similar.
People Magazine was informed by a source that Kevin did not initiate the divorce because it “was not anything that he wanted or sought, and if he could change the situation, he would.” In other words, Kevin did not want the divorce. Nevertheless, according to a different source from the same journal, it was suggested that the actor’s packed schedule may have been the factor that sent Baumgartner over the edge.
“Christine desires for them to spend quality time together at their house in Santa Barbara. Kevin is not in the studio for the most of the shooting. “She has been going through a lot since he has been gone,” the woman stated. “Christine does not want him to become involved in any other projects at this time. Since the beginning of last year, he has been completely preoccupied with the production of Horizon. The news did not make her very pleased.
After the divorce petition was filed, Baumgartner had thirty days to vacate the residence, according to court records that were acquired by TMZ. This led to more drama in the situation.
Kevin had paid Baumgartner more than what was necessary in their prenuptial agreement, and the actor was even prepared to help to her estranged wife’s rental expenses, according to a second source who spoke to People Magazine. Baumgartner is now separated from Kevin.
“Everything revolves around Christine. “Kevin has gone above and beyond in providing Christine the necessary means to find a suitable place for her to move,” a source close to Costner disclosed to the tabloid. “Kevin has gone above and beyond in providing Christine the necessary means to find a suitable place for her to move.”
Baumgartner filed a request for child support in the amount of 248,000 dollars on June 21st, 2023. This request was made in an effort to find a “suitable separate household” for their three children.
According to the document, Baumgartner said that the sum “is less than the amount needed to maintain the children in their accustomed lifestyle,” and she even requested that her husband pay one hundred percent of the costs associated with private school tuition, extracurricular activities/sports, and medical treatment for their children. During that time, Kevin criticized the request, saying that it was “inflated.”
According to the reports, Kevin had asked Baumgartner on many occasions for him to leave the Colorado property on a certain date. In order to legally force Baumgartner to vacate the premises, the actor’s legal team had to go as far as seeking the assistance of a court.
A court agreed with Kevin’s argument on July 6, 2023, and issued an injunction requiring Baumgartner to vacate the premises before July 2023.
People Magazine was informed by a source close to Kevin that he was “relieved” when the judge eventually ordered his ex-girlfriend to vacate the residence. After the order was issued, a second source confided in the magazine that Baumgartner was also “relieved” and “happy” to relocate out of the building.
“Christine hopes there will be less drama now,” the person said. “Kevin was successful in obtaining what he desired; she has moved out of the family home. The news has brought Christine a sense of relief. She feels relieved to put the past behind her.”
Baumgartner has subsequently moved his family to a more modest home in the neighborhood, which they first used as a “staff quarter.” The home served just as a “temporary solution” as she continued her search for a more permanent residence somewhere.
“She is remaining in the vicinity in order to prevent undue stress for the children. According to the information provided by the insider, they will see their buddies when they return to school in the autumn. “Christine is working hard to maintain as much of a regular routine as she can. Her entire concern is for the children.
Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner in 2014, (Brian Ach/Getty Images for Steinberg Sports & Entertainment via Getty Images)
After both Kevin and Baumgartner went in court on August 31 and September 1, 2023, to hash out various legalities, it has subsequently come to light that further information surrounding the scenario between Kevin and Baumgartner have come to light. During the child support court that took place in Santa Barbara, both Kevin and Baumgartner reportedly seemed thoughtful and tearful as they took turns describing their future plans. People Magazine made these observations.
Kevin testified that his “world’s been a little shook up” as a result of their split and that moving ahead, he intended to “take care of obligations that are already in place, I have a lot of responsibilities I need to take care of.” He continued:
“I need to figure out how I’m going to spend more time with the children, walk them through this process, and… I need to figure out how I’m going to spend more time with the children.” I have a lot of things to think about, including what I have to do as opposed to what I want to accomplish.
As for Baumgartner, who has been forced out of her previous house and has been living in a rental that costs $40,000 since then, she recently disclosed that she is contemplating going back to school to get a college degree in order to improve her chances of finding employment.
“I will look into the steps I need to take and any schooling I need to do, and I will enter the workforce,” the 49-year-old revealed. “I will look into the steps I need to take and any schooling I need to do.”
The judge ultimately decided in favor of Kevin and ordered him to pay $63,209 per month in child support, which is much less than the $161,592 Baumgartner had requested in the beginning.
It was claimed that Kevin had paid out $80 million in settlement costs for his divorce from Silva back in 1994. This was one of the biggest amounts that had been paid out at the time. However, since Kevin and Baumgartner signed an ironclad prenuptial agreement, she is not eligible for any spousal support payments in the event of their divorce.