Kevin Costner’s estranged wife says luxe lifestyle is in kids’ DNA as she requests more child support
It’s their world and we are just living in it.
Kevin Coster’s estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, said her kids deserve an increase in child support because living a luxurious life “is in their DNA at this point.”
The former handbag designer’s attorney, John Rydell, made the incredulous statement during Thursday’s court hearing, where they addressed Baumgartner’s request to increase the child support she is currently receiving from the actor.
Rydell then listed all the sports the children are involved in and the houses the family owns. Baumgartner also claimed that her reasons were about “so much more” than material things.
“It’s an experience,” she said in court, per People, before describing the family home as a “community.”
Baumgartner continued, “We create whatever we can dream up in here.”
Initially, Baumgartner requested $175,057 per month in child support, which was a $46,000-plus increase from the $129,000 she is currently receiving from Costner, 68.
However, Rydell said in his opening statement that they were reducing the requested amount to $161,592 per month, following a forensic accountant’s latest assessment.
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The new amount is still significantly higher than Costner’s proposal of $60,000 per month, which his lawyers suggested during the hearing.
Addressing her increase request, the mother of three claimed she needs more cash in order for their children to “live a lifestyle relatively comparable to the one they enjoy when they are with their father,” per a brief obtained by Us Weekly.
“The Court order must allow the children to be supported at a level commensurate with Kevin’s considerable wealth, even if that level of support also improves the standard of living of Christine,” her legal team argued.
According to Baumgartner, that “standard of living” should include a “comparable house” to Costner’s $145 million home and “luxury vacations” chartered on private planes.
“Because the children fly on private aircraft to go on luxury vacations when they are with their father, the Family Code dictates that Kevin should pay sufficient child support to Christine so that the children can go on comparable vacations when they are with her,” her lawyers stated in the brief.
Coster argued that an increase in payment is unnecessary, citing the potential financial benefits of Baumgartner’s alleged new romance and their current $129,000-a-month agreement.
During the court hearing, Costner alleged that Baumgartner’s new boyfriend recently gave her $20,000 in cash.
While the filings didn’t name the individual, sources told the outlet that Costner believes she is dating his close friend Josh Connor, who was spotted vacationing with the former handbag designer in July.
However, insiders connected to the two denied any romantic relationship at the time.
Per People, Baumgartner and her lawyer again denied she was dating Connor when she took the stand.
Baumgartner — who shares sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, plus daughter Grace, 13, with the “Yellowstone” actor — filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage on May 1.
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