Actor Kevin Costner and his wife Christine Baumgartner had a scandal-free marriage for 18 years. But since Baumgartner filed for divorce in early May, a war of roses has been raging. There is a dispute over the family estate in Carpinteria, California. Costner wants Baumgartner to move out of the villa because he owns it alone – the 49-year-old has so far refused, saying it is the home of their three children. Costner couldn’t just throw her out the door.
Baumgartner is now demanding $248.00 a month in child support for the children. This emerges from court documents that are available to the US magazine “People”, among others. In addition, Costner should pay the school fees and take over contributions for sports clubs and health insurance. The sum differs significantly from what Costner is willing to pay so far.
According to court documents, the actor’s lawyers have set his children’s child support at $38,000 a month, plus school and medical expenses. Baumgartner argues that the amount she is asking for is necessary in order to maintain her children’s “accustomed lifestyle”. Costner and Baumgartner have a 13-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 14 and 16.
In the court documents, Baumgartner also criticizes how the children found out about their parents’ separation. “It was important to me that we tell the children personally and together,” Baumgartner is quoted as saying. Costner ignored this request. “He insisted he had the right to tell them first – without my presence.” When Baumgartner filed for divorce in May, Costner was away filming.
“After a 24-year relationship, Kevin told our three children on a 10-minute Zoom call from his Las Vegas hotel room (…) that we were getting a divorce,” Baumgartner claims. “I’m still confused by his decision to do this via a very short Zoom session. Especially since he was planning to come home five days later. He could have just come home from Las Vegas to have the conversation to lead personally.”
Costner and Baumgartner married in September 2004 in Aspen, Colorado after six years of dating. It is the second failed marriage for the actor. He was married to his first wife, Cindy Silva, from 1978 to 1994. The marriage produced three children. Costner has a son from another relationship.
What: “People”, “Page Six”
