Christine Baumgartner, Kevin Costner’s separated wife, isn’t happy with her new $40,000-a-month rental despite its lavish four-bedroom apartment, exquisite decor, and expansive pool with a jacuzzi. Baumgartner moved into the posh home after a court in Santa Barbara, California cut her child support payments by more than half, to $63,000 a month.
After receiving an interim stipend of $129,000, Baumgartner asked for a raise to $161,000. This would enable her to rent a beachfront property similar to the one she had with Costner. At the hearing, she objected that her boys would have to share a toilet and that the guest quarters weren’t up to par with the current one.
The property is not in bad shape, as seen in the exclusive images. It has high-end fixtures, a beautifully landscaped garden, and a private entrance to a hiking track through the woods. Baumgartner, on the other hand, thinks it falls short of the standards she’s used to.
Costner maintained in court that his major concern in the divorce was his income flow, despite the fact that he owned a five-lot property in Carpinteria valued at least $75 million, with a main home and two guest cottages immediately on the beach. His Aspen property and his California house of over 20 years are on the market as he frets about rising child support payments.
During her testimony, Baumgartner described in great detail why Costner’s property was better. She even brought in images to prove it. Even though Costner wouldn’t move into her new house, he insisted that it was equivalent.
The court will determine the ultimate child support amount such that there is no drastic change in the children’s standard of living as a result of the divorce. In stark contrast to Baumgartner’s meager salary, Costner enjoys a comfortable lifestyle thanks to a $400,000 investment account that generates $1,800 per month and a $1.5 million lump payout from their prenuptial agreement.
Despite making $1,468,953 a month, Costner insisted that he did not spoil his children or live a lavish lifestyle. Costner’s son still uses a 16-year-old Range Rover despite the family’s considerable wealth, and the actor himself no longer flies around in a private jet. He said that when the houses on his Aspen ranch are leased out, he may use the ranch himself.
The judge heard that Costner’s 160,000-acre ranch had three houses, fishing lakes, riverside access, hiking paths, a baseball field, and lit sledding routes with music piped through the woods. The second Santa Barbara property that Kevin and Jennifer Costner bought to build their dream house on is now the site of yearly soccer competitions and a lavish holiday bash.
The court presiding over the divorce case will determine the amount of child support after considering the children’s needs and the financial circumstances of both parents.