Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner Battled Over Millions and Mixing Bowls During Their Divorce — You Won’t Believe What She Asked For

It was a Hollywood love story. Kevin Costner, the Oscar-winning star of “Yellowstone,” and his model-turned-handbag-designer wife, Christine Baumgartner, had been married for 18 years, living in Montecito, California. But when Christine filed for divorce on May 1, 2023, citing irreconcilable differences, it turned into one of the most bitter celebrity breakups in recent memory.

Their divorce was finalized on Feb. 15, 2024 — but not before explosive allegations, legal drama, and a battle over everything from beachfront estates to who gets the pots and pans.

Just three months before filing for divorce, Christine had surprised Kevin with a home Golden Globes watch party. Floods had prevented them from attending the ceremony in person, but Christine bought balloons and decorations with just “$30,” according to Kevin.

So when she filed for divorce weeks later, many were blindsided. Divorce proceedings estimated his net worth to be in the range of $400 million.

Costner responded quickly through a rep, saying “circumstances beyond his control” had forced him into the legal process.

What They Fought Over

At the center of their divorce drama was a prenuptial agreement, which Christine allegedly tried to challenge, according to ET Online. Kevin claimed the prenup entitled him to exclusive rights to his properties and required her to move out within 30 days of filing for divorce. She refused.

The couple also clashed over child support for their three children — Cayden, Hayes, and Grace. At first, Christine asked for a whopping $248,000 per month, citing their children’s “customary lifestyle.” She claimed the kids needed private school, staff, multiple homes, and even expensive cookware and mixing bowls to maintain their standard of living.

Costner, on the other hand, called her demands inflated, claiming the kids didn’t use private trainers or require the lavish expenditures Christine outlined — including $188,500 in plastic surgery expenses he said were for her, not the children, Us Magazine reported.

The court ultimately sided closer to Costner’s figure, ordering him to pay $129,000 a month.

The House Standoff

Christine refused to move out of their Montecito mansion until her financial demands were met, but a judge eventually ordered her to vacate by July 31, 2023. Kevin offered to pay a $200,000 down payment on a new home for her and cover mortgage and property expenses for a year. But Christine said the offer was too low.

A Marriage That Wasn’t Always Rocky

Before the divorce, Kevin often spoke fondly of Christine during their time together. In 2022, he told People magazine that she made their house feel like a home and brought warmth and beauty to his life, ET Online reported.

And even after briefly splitting in 2003 over differences about having children, they found their way back to each other — marrying at Kevin’s Aspen estate in 2004. The couple’s kids together bring Costner’s total to seven children.