Kevin Costner and his estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, have been involved in an acrimonious separation for months. Following a seemingly drama-free 18-year marriage, the couple has clashed about everything from child support to credit card expenses and household items.
However, none of their fights have been as heated as their months-long spat over Baumgartner’s refusal to vacate Costner’s $145 million Santa Barbara mansion. Despite being bound by the terms of their prenup, which required her to leave Costner’s home within 30 days after a divorce, Baumgartner stayed at the luxurious estate months after the divorce was filed.
Kevin Costner’s 18-year marriage to Christine Baumgartner ended in May. Since then, both of them have been involved in a never-ending court battle, with the most heated disagreement revolving around Baumgartner’s refusal to leave Costner’s huge $145 million Santa Barbara estate.
Costner said in court records obtained by Insider that the collapse of his previous marriage had left him without a place to live, a turn of events he was determined to avoid when he married Baumgartner.
“When Christine and I began discussing marriage in 2003, I made it clear to her that I would not marry again without clarity that my separate property residences would remain mine to live in no matter what happened in our marriage,” he said per court documents.
To ease his now-estranged wife’s transition, Costner reportedly gave her $1 million to help with the purchase of a new home, as well as offering to cover the mortgage, insurance and taxes for a whole year. According to the Yellowstone star, Baumgartner remained reluctant to leave the property.
“Kevin has acted in good faith and has done everything in his power to make the transition as seamless as possible,” the acclaimed actor’s court filings read. “But Christine refuses to vacate his separate property residence as she agreed she would do in 2004 as a condition of marriage.”