Kevin Costner’s Ex Rents $40K-a-Month House with Jacuzzi after Pleading $175K for Kids’ Luxurious Life
- Kevin Costner discussed his and Christine Baumgartner’s divorce for the first time.
- Costner and Baumgartner were in court due to a contentious child support battle that the actor won.
- Baumgartner had to move to a $40,000-a-month rental house after Costner won in court.
Kevin Costner opened up for the first time about his and his estranged wife Christine Baumgartner’s divorce. The actor spoke on September 1, 2023, after a court hearing in Santa Barbara, California.
Costner and Baumgartner got married in 2004. However, after 18 years of marriage, the former model filed for divorce from the actor. The pair have three kids together, Cayden Costner, 16, Hayes Costner, 14, and Grace Costner, 13.
Christine Baumgartner and Kevin Costner in Hollywood, California, on November 8, 2014 | Source: Getty Images
In his first comments about the divorce, Costner said the divorce was a horrible place to be, but that’s where he and Baumgartner were at the moment. He added that it felt so bad to have someone he loves on the other side.
Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner in West Hollywood, California, on March 27, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
The actor also confessed that he still has love for Baumgartner and that, just like everybody else, he hoped everything would be resolved quickly and the divorce finalized. The movie star and his estranged wife have been caught up in a contentious divorce due to disagreements about child support.
Christine Baumgartner at Saint Andrews Old Course on October 8, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
Where Does Baumgartner Live after She Filed for Divorce?
Baumgartner, a designer, filed a request in court in August 2023 so that Costner could increase the child support he was paying to her. Costner was paying $129,000 as child support, but the mom of three wanted the amount increased to $175,057.
After his win in court regarding child support, Costner was spotted hanging out with his youngest son.
Kevin Costner in Washington, DC, on October 23, 2015 | Source: Getty Images
The designer noted through her court documents that even $175,057 wouldn’t be enough to replicate Costner’s lifestyle but would be sufficient to give their children a relatively comparable lifestyle.
Christine Baumgartner, Hayes Costner, and Grace Costner in Paris, France, on January 15, 2013 | Source: Getty Images
During the child support hearings held on August 2023, Baumgartner’s lawyer emphasized that luxury was now part of the children’s DNA. The lawyer listed all the sports the kids take part in and the houses the family owns.
However, the court didn’t grant Baumgartner’s request after two days of hearing. Instead, the judge asked Costner to pay $63,209 as child support, which was less than half of what he was paying before the designer asked for an increase.
After the court’s decision, Baumgartner moved into a $40,000-a-month four-bedroom rental home in Montecito. The designer had requested for an increase in child support because she felt this house didn’t provide her and the kids the same standard of living as her old one.
Baumgartner wanted to rent a beach house similar to the one she lived with Costner, but with her request denied, she moved into the four-bedroom house. The designer’s new home has a pool, a guest accommodation, a jacuzzi, and a manicured garden. The home comes with luxury fittings and is near a wooded hiking trail.
After his win in court regarding child support, Costner was spotted hanging out with his youngest son. The actor and Hayes spent time together at a local hangout in Santa Barbara, California, where they enjoyed an hour-long meal.
Father and son, who were casually dressed, arrived in Costner’s limited edition BMW Alpina Roadster, worth approximately $300,000. The 68-year-old had previously said that the divorce had shaken him, but now what he wanted most was to find a way to spend more time with his kids.
Kevin Costner in Los Angeles, California on October 27, 2015 | Source: Getty Images
Costner added that he and Baumgartner would figure out how to co-parent well in the coming days. He noted that she was an incredible mom and that they would reach an understanding as they were now in a kind of recovery period.
