Kevin Costner is set to pay his estranged wife Christine Baumgartner a hefty sum in their controversial divorce.
On Wednesday, a judge ruled that the Yellowstone star must temporarily pay $129,000 a month in child support pending an evidence hearing scheduled for November.
Although the sum is substantial, it is only about half of what Baumgartner asked for in the divorce.
Temporary child support payments are subject to change pending the November hearing, where both parties will have an opportunity to present their arguments.
A source tells ET that Baumgartner “appeared in court today looking serious and dressed all in black. She smiled occasionally, kept to herself, and spoke only when asked by her attorneys. She seemed happy as she left the courtroom.”
While Costner did not appear in court in person or virtually, his attorneys are demanding that Baumgartner be ordered to pay back the difference in payments she has since received if child support is reduced at the November hearing.
According to recent court documents obtained by ET on Tuesday, both Costner and Baumgartner will each be responsible for covering 50 percent of healthcare costs, as well as the cost of private school tuition and any extracurricular activities.
As reported earlier this year, Baumgartner originally asked the court to award her $248,000 a month in child support.
According to court documents obtained by ET, Baumgartner, who shares three teenage children with the actor, presented a 2022 income statement for Costner’s income from all sources in calendar year 2022, claiming that Costner earned $19,517,064 in 2022 .
In a statement by an auditor hired by Baumgartner to conduct a forensic analysis of Costner’s “gross cash flow available for child support,” the CPA concluded that Costner’s average monthly cash flow is $1,536,808 .
The CPA determined that the benchmark monthly child support payment payable by Costner to Baumgartner is $152,681. But that number should actually be $248,000 a month, the CPA said, when factoring in the children’s usual monthly living standards, which are based on the cost of living and housing expenses reported in Costner’s 2022 financial reports.
“I am aware that our lifestyle is extraordinary. I appreciate how blessed we are to live like this. It’s important not only to provide our children with a warm and comfortable home, but also to instill in them family values and gratitude,” Baumgartner told court documents. “I understand that based on Kevin’s income in 2022, the benchmark for child support would be $152,681 per month. As outlined above, the amount required to support the children’s current lifestyle is $332,264 per month, which is 60% of our family’s expenses.”
As ET previously reported, Baumgartner, who filed for divorce in May, said she was willing to move out of the family home (a point of contention Costner raised in court documents), but she did so “without Kevin’s support.” couldn’t do”. .”
Costner initially responded to Baumgartner’s proposal of $248,000 per month with a counter offer of $51,940 per month. In additional documents submitted by Baumgartner, she dismissed his claim that he “does the most.” [he] “I can reasonably do to make a divorce as smooth as possible for our children,” and she called his offer of nearly $52,000 a month “totally unreasonable.”
The judge’s recent preliminary ruling on Costner’s child support orders also includes a determination that Costner will pay Baumgartner $200,000 for attorneys’ fees and $100,000 for forensic analyst fees.
Costner filed another motion, demanding that Baumgartner pay Costner $99,200 to cover his legal fees.
For more information on their ongoing divorce, watch the video below.
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