The legal battle between Kevin Costner and his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner continues to take new turns. The actor is refusing to pay the amounts his ex-wife is asking to support their children, claiming he lacks sufficient funds and accusing the businesswoman of using the money for other purposes.
According to court documents obtained by Page Six this week, the popular performer of the Yellowstone series made shocking statements against his children’s mother. The actor claims that the $250,000 a month the wife is asking for child support will benefit Baumgartner’s personal expenses, not the children.
Costner also asserts that he can’t pay those amounts because he’s no longer working on the successful production, and says his ex has a misleading view of his finances. “I’m going to be making significantly less in 2023 than I was in 2022. That’s because I’m no longer under contract with Yellowstone, which was their main source of income over the last year,” the 68-year-old star said in his filings this week.
Recall that in May Paramount announced that Yellowstone would end with its fifth season. Costner, who has played patriarch John Dutton since the series premiered in 2018, claims that Baumgartner’s calculations on his income are untrue because his income is “variable and can change dramatically each year.”
According to the same publication, the actor also mentioned that he couldn’t afford to “pay those amounts” while still taking care of his own standard of living and preserving his fortune.
As for the quarter of a million dollars a month Christine is asking for in child support, Costner claims that Baumgartner intends to use the money for cosmetic surgery and other personal expenses. The artist’s accountant noted that the businesswoman spent more than $100,000 on these types of procedures, leading the actor to believe his request for such a substantial monthly amount was motivated by his desire to continue performing plastic surgeries , revealed Page. Six.
Additionally, Costner alleges that Baumgartner made extravagant purchases at boutiques and allegedly withdrawing money from ATMs, applying for loans and using his finances for legal fees and other expenses not directly related to raising children. Those expenses cast doubt on Baumgartner’s true intentions behind the child support claim, Costner said.
The actor’s ex-partner argues that the amount claimed is necessary to support their children’s lifestyle; teenager Cayden, 16; Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13. However, Costner says about $30,000 a month would be more than enough to cover their expenses, including health insurance, extracurricular activities and tuition at their private schools, and more. .
“The marital lifestyle, including that of a minor, was consistent with Kevin’s extremely high income,” the woman claims in court filings. And he adds: “I am aware that our lifestyle is extraordinary. I appreciate how blessed we are to live like this. It is important not only to provide our children with a warm and comfortable home, but also to instill in them family values and gratitude.”
The accounting department hired by the woman, based on the banking information provided by the ex-partner, determined that the average monthly cash flow Costner receives would be approximately $1.5 million.
Financial disputes between Costner and Baumgartner have taken center stage since Christine filed for divorce in May after 18 years of marriage. As the litigation rages on, Baumgartner’s refusal to vacate his Santa Barbara property has further complicated the situation.