Love on the Rocks: Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner Finalize Divorce After Nearly Two Decades
Iconic Hollywood leading man Kevin Costner and his wife of 18 years, model and handbag designer Christine Baumgartner, have officially called it quits. A Santa Barbara judge declared the couple legally divorced on Friday, ending their storybook romance that began on the golf course and led to a fairytale wedding on Costner’s sprawling Colorado ranch in 2004.
The split comes after Baumgartner, 49, initially filed for divorce back in May 2022, citing irreconcilable differences. The proceedings started off contentious, with disagreements over child custody arrangements and Costner’s hefty support payments for their three teenage children. But the former couple were able to reach an amicable settlement in September, avoiding a public trial and agreeing to joint custody of their sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 15, as well as daughter Grace, 13.
According to court documents, Costner has been ordered to pay a sizable $63,000 per month in child support to Baumgartner, who had originally sought $175,000 monthly. While the settlement terms may sting the wallet of the “Yellowstone” star, whose net worth stands at $250 million, it spares him and his family additional scrutiny during an already difficult transition.
The relationship between Costner, 69, and Baumgartner was a classic Hollywood whirlwind romance. They first crossed paths at a golf course in 1996 during his “Tin Cup” days, but sparks didn’t fly until they had a chance meeting at a restaurant two years later. Baumgartner, then 30 at the start of their courtship, was clearly smitten with the leading man 19 years her senior. “She let me know that I was the apple of her eye,” Costner later told Parade magazine.
After a five-year courtship, Costner and Baumgartner decided to tie the knot in the ultimate celebrity fashion: a wedding so grand it was fit for the pages of a fairytale. Costner arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, while the bride pulled up in a vintage green truck. The guests, including Oprah, Don Johnson, and Joan Lunden, were treated to a weekend-long celebration at the actor’s 160-acre ranch in Aspen.
The lavish and intimate soiree embodied the magic that Costner has brought to the big screen in classics like “The Bodyguard,” “Dances with Wolves,” and “Bull Durham.” And for nearly two decades afterward, Costner and Baumgartner seemed destined to live happily ever after in their sprawling Santa Barbara oasis with their three children.
But alas, even fantasy romances come to an end. While the dissolution of this relationship is certainly heartbreaking, one can still reminisce on the beautiful moments this pair shared during simpler times. We can cling to our nostalgic memories of Costner’s rugged sex appeal, Baumgartner’s radiant bridal glow, and the undeniable passion that brewed between them.
Their dazzling chemistry may have dimmed, but here’s hoping these two Hollywood stars can maintain their grace and dignity as they close the chapter on their epic love story. Just like in his iconic films, Kevin Costner has given us a timeless tale to remember. This one just happens to be a romance gone wrong instead of a happily ever after. But perhaps he can find that magical ending once more
