Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner have been publicly fighting their War of the Roses for months. Now they were in court for the first time, the hearing ended in tears.
In early May, Christine Baumgartner, 49, filed for divorce from Kevin Costner, 68, which is said to have taken the Hollywood star by surprise. Since then, the two have been fighting a public mud fight, and the ex-couple’s divorce war keeps making headlines. The “Bodyguard” actor got his wife from the common villa in thrown at Santa Barbara. After weeks of refusing to go, she is only recently moved out.
On Thursday, August 31, 2023, the first hearing in a court in Santa Barbara, California, was held that dealt with alimony. At the same time, Baumgartner burst into tears and explained that their children Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13, cannot do without luxury.
Kevin Costner’s ex Christine Baumgartner bursts into tears in court
As “People” reports, Christine Baumgartner currently receives the equivalent of 118,800 euros per month in support, but is now demanding around 161,220 euros per month, an increase of around 42,400 euros. This should now be heard in court. In the opening statement, Christine’s attorney, John Rydell, said they would reduce the previously claimed amount to €148,800 per month, according to a forensic accountant’s latest estimate. Baumgartner’s attorney went on to stress that a life of luxury “at this point in time” would be “in their children’s DNA” and listed all the sports they are involved in and the homes the family owns.
Shortly thereafter, Christine leafed through the evidence photos of the house she had to vacate and tearfully told the court: “It’s so much more than this, it’s an experience.” “We’ve created quite a community,” she added, according to People, repeatedly referring to each portion of the Santa Barbara lot as “ours.” The villa includes a volleyball court, a garden, an infinity pool and two guest houses. The mother of three also referred to the “surf garage” of the house, which also houses craft shops, and said: “We create everything we can dream of here.” Her children are “connected to the sea”, it is their home, she continued with a trembling voice.
Children should maintain their lifestyle
A court document obtained by the US magazine ahead of the hearing said: “Christine is making this motion (for child support, editor’s note) to uphold principles of family law and to ensure that the parties’ three minor children continue to enjoy the lifestyle made possible by Kevin’s substantial income and fortune.” Since Kevin Costner has the equivalent of 15 million euros in cash equivalents, he has “plenty of funds to pay his maintenance”.
Should Baumgartner’s current application be granted, the order would be “retroactive to July 1”. The filing states: “The court has an obligation to determine child support so that the children, when with Christine, can lead a lifestyle relatively comparable to that which they lead when with their father. “
Sources used: people.com, actionpress.de
