Divorce is never simple, but when it involves children and a celebrity spouse in the public glare, things become far more problematic. We’re discussing Kevin Costner’s divorce from his second wife, Christine Baumgartner.
Baumgartner filed for divorce on May 1, 2023, after 18 years of marriage. She had told Costner a month before that she wanted a divorce, and they had originally arranged to tell their three children together. Finally, Costner used a video conference to inform his children of the divorce.
The children, their living expenses, and child support are now at the center of the divorce dispute between the soon-to-be ex-spouses. Baumgartner is requesting $248,000 in child support per month. Meanwhile, Costner believes that a large percentage of the child support request is for Baumgartner’s benefit rather than the children’s.
Baumgartner reportedly requests expenses such as a personal trainer and plastic surgery, which Costner’s legal team believes are not for the children but for Baumgartner. Baumgartner spent $188,500 a month on plastic surgery in 2022, according to Costner’s attorney, Laura Wasser. Baumgartner’s assessment, according to Wasser, was “fundamentally dishonest.”
Child support is intended to ensure that the couple’s children continue to live the lifestyle they have become accustomed to following the divorce. Obviously, when people are used to living in multi-million dollar mansions, that would cost a lot of money, but how much money is realistically reasonable?
According to Wasser, Costner is willing to pay the recommended child support amount of $123,620. Furthermore, their prenup mandates him to pay Baumgartner $1.4 million after the divorce is finalized.
He is also expected to pay her mortgage, insurance, and taxes until she moves out, and he is allowing her to stay at his Aspen house with their children for free one week per year. He would also allow her to attend the golf clubs to which they go and will cover all of her expenditures while she is there.
Baumgartner, meantime, refuses to leave Costner’s beachfront mansion in Carpinteria, California. She says she’ll go if Costner agrees to pay her child support demands. She was expected to leave Costner’s house within 30 days of filing for divorce, according to their prenup.
Since filing for divorce, Baumgartner and Costner have only seen one other once. That was to commemorate the birthday of their son Cayden. They lived in the same house for a few days and were nice to one another. Costner has been filming “Horizon” in Utah, and he has returned to the site after a brief break to celebrate his son’s birthday.
Watch the video below for more about Costner and Baumgartner’s divorce proceedings.
Do you think Baumgartner will get her way when it comes to child support, or do you believe Costner will win this battle?
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