‘Yellowstone’ Star Kevin Costner Learns His Fate From Judge As Bitter Divorce Battle Continues

The “Yellowstone” star Kevin Costner has just learned how much child support he will have to pay his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner, who he was married to for 18 years before she filed for divorce in May, as their bitter divorce battle continues.

Judge Issues Child Support Ruling

The New York Post reported that Judge Thomas Anderle put forth a tentative ruling on Tuesday stating that Costner, 68, must pay Baumgartner, 49, $129,755 per month in child support for their three teenage children: Cayden, 16; Hayes, 14; and Grace, 13.

Under this ruling, Costner and Baumgartner must each pay 50% of their children’s private school tuition, extracurricular activities, and healthcare expenses. Costner must also pay $200,000 in attorney’s fees and $100,000 in forensic costs, according to Fox News. Court documents state that all payments will be made on the “first of each month” with “credit for sums paid between July 1 and July 12.”

This ruling can be seen as something of a compromise, as Baumgartner had initially asked for $248,000 per month in child support or “in the alternative, at the guideline rate of $217,300 per month, payable on the first day of each month.” She had also requested that Costner fully cover their children’s private school tuition, extracurricular activities and sports, as well as 100% of their healthcare expenses.

Full Story: You Won’t Believe How Much Kevin Costner’s Wife Wants In Child Support Per Month

Costner Fires Back

Costner fired back by offering to pay $51,940 in child support per month, which Baumgartner claimed was “completely inappropriate.”

“His proposed support is less than the monthly rent he received for one of his guest houses, and less than the $68,000 per month he committed to paying in his declaration filed on June 8, 2023 in connection with his request for a preliminary injunction,” Baumgartner argued in a filing last week.

Baumgartner went on to claim that Costner was being dishonest when he alleged he was “doing the most [he] can reasonably do to make a divorce as seamless as possible for our children” because his actions showed “precisely the opposite” when he “sought to evict his wife and children from their home, and he now offers to pay child support of $51,940 per month.”

Celebrity lawyer Christopher C. Melcher spoke out to say that while $129,755 per month may seem like a lot of money, Tuesday’s ruling is just “another defeat for Christine.”

“Under the tentative ruling, Christine will receive one-half of the amount she was requesting. In that sense, it is another defeat for Christine, but no one should be complaining about getting $129,755 per month in child support,” he explained. “It is an outrageous sum of money, but Kevin has an unbelievable lifestyle, and the law allows for child support so the mother can maintain the same standard of living for the children.”

Related: Kevin Costner Scores Huge Win From Judge As Bitter Divorce Continues

‘Yellowstone’ Ending

Days after Baumgartner filed for divorce, Daily Mail reported that the end of “Yellowstone” was announced by Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, who also announced that a sequel series starring Matthew McConaughey will be replacing it.

“‘Yellowstone’ has been the cornerstone on which we have launched an entire universe of global hits — from ‘1883’ to ‘Tulsa King,’ and I am confident our sequel will be another big hit, thanks to the brilliant creative mind of Taylor Sheridan [the show’s creator] and our incredible casts who bring these shows to life,” McCarthy said.

Though Costner and Baumgartner signed a prenuptial agreement when they married back in 2004 dictating that she was entitled to $1.4 million if they split, she has been fighting for more money ever since she filed for divorce on May 1.

This divorce has clearly become very messy for everyone involved, but for the sake of the former couple’s three children, we can only hope that Costner and Baumgartner are able to come to some kind of amicable agreement moving forward.

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