Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner’s divorce is getting more costly by the minute.
The two appeared in a Santa Barbara, Calif., courtroom Thursday for a child support hearing for their three teenage children. Accordingly Documents obtained from People And “Entertainment Tonight” Baumgartner charges $161,592 per month. Their attorney, John Rydell, argued that the children’s financially comfortable lifestyles were “in their DNA at this point.”
Baumgartner currently receives $129,755 in monthly child support from Costner. Her children are 16, 14 and 13 years old.
The former model and handbag designer filed for divorce in May and reportedly defied their prenuptial agreement by refusing to move out of Costner’s $145 million Santa Barbara home. She married Costner in 2004 and currently rents a $40,000 home.
Thursday’s hearing, which is set to resume on Friday, followed a forensic accountant’s assessment of Costner’s assets. The Yellowstone actor’s attorneys argued that Baumgartner, who originally asked for $248,000 a month, exceeded “the reasonable needs of the children.”
According to court documents, Baumgartner’s attorneys initially argued that at least “$175,057 per month” was an acceptable amount of child support under “the guideline” of California law combined with Costner’s alleged “cash flow.”
In her court document obtained by People on Saturday, Baumgartner stated: “Forensics have determined [Costner’s] The average cash flow available for support for the 2021 and 2022 biennium was $19,248,467 per year ($1,604,039 per month).”
In documents seen by Entertainment Tonight, Costner’s legal team argued that his children’s needs were “completely covered” by monthly alimony of $63,209 and that “any alimony in excess of that amount was merely disguised spousal support.”
Evan Agostini/Invision/Associated Press
According to ET, Baumgartner cried on the witness stand while speaking about Costner’s 400-acre Dunbar Ranch in Colorado, where they got married.
“It’s so much more than that – it’s an experience. We’ve created quite a community,” Baumgartner said while looking at photographic evidence, according to People. She spoke about the family’s volleyball court, garden and infinity pool, and two guest houses.
“We can do anything we can imagine here,” she reportedly said.
An eyewitness told the outlet that Baumgartner “broke down in tears and reached for a tissue” when asked about the property, which Costner purchased for $30 million in 2000 alone. The judge adjourned the hearing for five minutes to allow Baumgartner to calm down.
Baumgartner is reportedly entitled to a $1.5 million divorce payment, according to a prenuptial agreement obtained by People. A source told the outlet in July that she was “focused on making sure everyone is as happy and comfortable as possible.”
