Kevin Costner’s estranged wife Christine Baumgartner broke down on the witness stand Thursday as she described the couple’s lavish $11 million-a-year lifestyle, which includes a $175 million beachfront home and a 160,000-acre ranch in Aspen.
Christine Baumgartner, 49, moved from the beachfront property to a nearby $40,000-a-month rental property last month.
Although luxurious, she says the new home doesn’t offer her children a “comparable lifestyle” and is asking for extra money to get a house that is “more than a home, it’s an experience” like the marital property.
Adjusting a pair of white-framed glasses and speaking confidently, she led the court through a series of photos of Costner’s $175 million Carpinteria estate – including images showcasing the bleached wood deck, an infinity pool overlooking the ocean Chicken coop and two guests show houses.
Interior shots show a decor that fits what she describes as “California living,” with colorful striped carpets, tan leather sofas and a huge marble table with dark wood chairs overlooking the ocean.
Kevin Costner and his estranged wife Christine Baumgartner arrived at court in Santa Barbara today to negotiate child support and custody arrangements. Costner slipped through a side door and was not pictured
Baumgartner’s attorney spoke about the family’s lavish lifestyle in Aspen, Colorado – describing how the ranch has toboggan runs that are lit at night and music plays through the trees, as well as several canoes and fishing lakes
For much of her testimony, Costner remained impassive while his estranged wife broke down in tears on the witness stand
Despite a foggy day in Santa Barbara, Baumgartner, 49, opted for stark gray suits and sunglasses and wore her hair half-up
Baumgartner, who introduced herself to the court as “Costner,” also talked about the family’s athletic lifestyle, which includes regular surfing, fishing, diving and volleyball.
These include a boat belonging to their 16-year-old son Cayden and a special room where the family’s large collection of surfboards, wetsuits and paddle boards are stored.
The Carpinteria property consists of five separate properties, one of which is a former neighbor’s house acquired in 2016 and is now used as a guest house, as well as a place to sit by the fire and roast marshmallows and hold family gatherings.
In his opening statement, Baumgartner’s attorney, John Ridel, noted the staggering sums at stake, telling the court that Costner was raking in more than $1.4 million a month.
During his deposition two weeks ago, the Dances With Wolves star put his monthly living expenses at $240,000, but doesn’t want to pay his ex more than $60,000 a month.
Ridel also talked about the family’s lavish lifestyle in Aspen, Colorado – describing the ranch as having sledding trails that are lit at night and music playing through the trees, as well as multiple canoes and fishing lakes.
According to Ridel, the property is currently renting for an eye-watering $50,000 per day.
Later in the morning, Baumgartner shared more details about the family’s luxurious lifestyle, including Christmas parties where they transported 40 tons of snow to a 10-acre property they also owned near their main home in California just for the event.
Baumgartner described how they “rented all the animals from the stable in Bethlehem for the children to ride, also planted a fir forest and had toboggan runs built.”
She said the property will also be used for birthday camping events, where they will set up 40 tents for her son Cayden and his friends and rent taco trucks to provide food.
Although Costner remained impassive for much of her testimony, she became emotional at times and burst into tears when the couple’s Aspen ranch was brought up – causing court to adjourn for a five-minute recess.
Baumgartner discussed her two most recent Hawaii vacations in March and July with Josh Connor — who she described as a “family friend.” They are pictured in Hawaii in July
Christine Baumgartner was flanked by her legal team as she arrived in court on Thursday
An excited Baumgartner also opened up about her two recent Hawaii vacations in March and July with Josh Connor – who she described as a “family friend.”
Connor, who lives in Santa Barbara, is a longtime friend of Costner and was recently divorced from his wife Patricia.
In court papers filed Thursday morning, Costner accused his estranged wife of having a romantic relationship with him, but when Baumgartner’s attorney asked her point-blank if he was her boyfriend, she replied firmly, “No.”
The 49-year-old was also asked about the $20,000 Connor gave her, telling the court that her mother was given $10,000 “because she was worried about her house.”
She tearfully admitted that Costner had been paying her mother $5,000 a month “for years,” but the payments stopped when they separated.
Baumgartner said she has since returned the other $10,000 to Connor “because I don’t need it right now.”
The mother of three became agitated during cross-examination as Costner’s legal team repeatedly pointed out features in her new home that were similar to those in her marital home. They are trying to prove that the property is “comparable” and that it does not require monthly child support payments of $161,592.
The amount is a new amount presented to the court Thursday morning and is a reduction from the $175,000 she was seeking.
The hearing concerns the future of their three children: sons Cayden (16), Hayes (14) and daughter Grace (13).
Baumgartner, who moved out of the marital home last month after a court battle, said her new $40,000-a-month rental in Montecito was nothing like the one she left behind
Both Costner and his soon-to-be-ex-wife arrived at the hearing with 30 minutes to spare; The dapper Costner, dressed in a tailored beige suit, snuck in through a side door.
Meanwhile, despite a foggy day in Santa Barbara, Baumgartner opted for a gray suit and sunglasses and wore her hair in a half-up.
Today’s hearing in Santa Barbara, California, is scheduled to last two days and will be presided over by Judge Thomas Anderle.
The feuding couple had been married for 19 years and Costner was reportedly “caught by surprise” after his glamorous wife filed for divorce in May, citing his heavy workload.
Since then, the two have been arguing about where they live, the validity of their marriage contract and the breathtaking amount of child support that Baumgartner is demanding.
The mother-of-three initially requested alimony totaling $248,000, which Costner, 68, refused.
After receiving significantly less money, she’s now asking for an increase to $175,000 a month to give her children a “comparable” standard of living when they’re with her.
In court filings, she told how the kids live in a sprawling $145 million beachfront complex when they’re with their dad, flying on a private jet and enjoying luxury vacations.
Baumgartner, who moved out of the marital home last month after a court battle, said her new $40,000-a-month rental in Montecito was nothing like the one she left behind.
A lawsuit filed in court last week said, “Unlike Kevin’s Beach Club Compound, the September rental is on the mountain side of the freeway.”
“There is no direct beach access, no walking distance to the beach, and no scenic views.”
Another legal document asked for more details about the Dances With Wolves star’s $400 million fortune, including a claim for “expenses paid by you or another person at your request or on your behalf in the were paid in connection with extramarital love affairs”.
In addition to being the main breadwinner, Costner was the only person making money recently, and Baumgartner states in her filing that she has no income
Baumgartner also wants to know if Costner will be returning to the hit show Yellowstone, saying he made $11 million for season four, which is $1.1 million for each episode. In season five, he was paid $10 million, meaning he earned $1.25 million per episode.
The brief also states that Costner will continue to receive monetary compensation from Yellowstone even if he withdraws, as he is “entitled to a percentage of profits” from the program “regardless of his participation in Season 6 or beyond.”
In response, Costner’s legal team, led by Hollywood divorce attorney Laura Wasser, stated that the motion was “made for the purpose of harassment only, overbroad in scope and subject matter, distressing, oppressive and unacceptably complicated.”
His attorneys went on to say that Christine’s and her attorneys’ motion was “not relevant to the facts” because there was “no common property” between the former couple regarding their separation.
Costner and his team also added that he “doesn’t know for sure.” [Christine] had any “love affairs outside of marriage” prior to the breakup, and if so, whether she spent any of his money or charged expenses to further her affair(s) on the credit cards he paid for.”
The star’s lawyers stated: “[Kevin] has no response documents for “extramarital romantic relationships” he entered into because he did not enter into any.”
Further details about Costner’s finances are expected to be revealed during the court’s multi-day evidentiary hearing today [Baumgartner’s] application for child support; at which point the court will receive evidence of this [Costner’s] Gross cash flow available for support and expected future revenue.
The couple was photographed arriving at the Santa Barbara court hearing on August 19 to give their testimony. The case is expected to be heard in full later this year.