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All the Deets on Kevin Costner and His Ex-Wife Christine Baumgartner

All the Deets on Kevin Costner and His Ex-Wife Christine Baumgartner

Update: These two officially finalized their separation on February 16, 2023. (FYI, back in September 2023, the Yellowstone actor and his ex-wife agreed to retain joint custody of their three children and settled their divorce.)

A reminder that Christine Baumgartner initially filed to divorce Kevin Costner in May 2023, according to court papers. For months, the former couple was entrenched in a bitter custody battle, with one report noting that the actor had asked a judge to force Christine to move out of their former marital home in Santa Barbara, California.

Allegedly, Kevin cited Christine as having signed a prenuptial agreement when they wed promising to move out within 30 days should they ever separate, per court papers obtained by Insider. To read all the details on the court proceedings, head right on this way.


Kevin Costner has been a massive Hollywood fixture for decades—I mean, have you *seen* The Bodyguard?!, and he's clearly keeping the momentum going strong given the success of his most recent project, Yellowstone. The series is a good ol' fashioned Western family drama about the Dutton family, the owners of the largest ranch in Montana. And yes, it's incredible, but I digress! Though Kevin is v much in the spotlight—especially after winning a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Drama in February 2023—, his love life has remained relatively private. Enter: this story! Here's what you should know about Kevin's wife of almost two decades (!!), Christine Baumgartner, and their sweet relationship.

Kevin and Christine's dating story is truly a doozy

But in the best way possible! Turns out, Kevin was actually still married to his first wife, model and actor Cindy Silva, when he initially met Christine on a golf course where he had been rehearsing for his 1996 film Tin Cup. But it was hardly a messy intro! It was actually fate that brought Kevin and Christine back together later on and not messy Scandoval vibes.

Once Kevin and Cindy got divorced in 1994, Kevin actually briefly dated and had a child with Bridget Rooney. Fast-forward four years later after that relationship ended, and the actor wound up running into Christine again at a restaurant. And the rest is truly history, since the two began dating soon after and haven't looked back since. Cute pic just because, incoming:

kevin costner and christine baumgartner
Frazer Harrison - Getty Images

Their wedding was *chef's kiss*

Yep, their 2004 ceremony was honestly the stuff of dreams, taking place on Kevin's 160-acre ranch, The Dunbar, in Aspen. And—get this—per People, the celeb arrived in a freakin' horse-drawn carriage while his bride made her big entrance in a green vintage truck.

kevin costner marries in aspen, colorado
Getty Images

Oh, and The Dunbar—which is named after Kevin's iconic Dances with Wolves character—is still owned by the actor and is available as a private wedding venue. @ my future husband: if you're reading this, consider this me dropping a *major* hint.

kevin costner and christine baumgartner wedding photos
WireImage House - Getty Images

^ This rowboat moment?! Iconic.

Christine is a handbag designer

Christine's label is called Cat Bag Couture, and her stylish laptop bags are available in boutiques near the couples's ranch in Aspen. She opened up to the Denver Post about her entrepreneurial endeavor way back in 2005 and shed light on her journey, saying, "I didn’t start because I loved handbags; I started because I was missing something...I use a computer quite a bit and travel a lot. I looked for a computer bag, and they functioned, but I didn’t find anything that was right for me."

Through it all, Kevin was super supportive of his wife: "When I came up with some samples, I showed them to Kevin, and he said they were beautiful and amazing," she said. "He told me I should take it to the next step and he’d help me. I’ve always loved fashion and style, and if you can mix it with function, it’s perfect." According to Country Living, the accessories were even featured on Desperate Housewives, meaning they're Eva Longoria-approved. The more you know!

Kids were always a priority for Christine

Kevin revealed to Extra in May 2020 that from the very beginning, Christine told him, "If you're going to be with me, you need to know that kids are at the end of the road for me with you, if that's going to happen."

"And it was unusual that somebody puts the news out right there the first day," the actor continued. The duo dated for six years before Christine gave Kevin an ultimatum: "Finally, there came a moment where, maybe this doesn't go forward," he added. Thankfully, he came to the realization: "I'm not going to lose her because I'm afraid."

Even years before, in 2012, Kevin was upfront about this with Parade when he recalled Christine saying, "'I’m going to wait for you, but not long. When you come to your senses, come back to me.' [laughs] And I did."

premiere of 20th century fox's
Rodin Eckenroth - Getty Images

Fast-forward to 2023, and the couple now share three children: Cayden Wyatt, Hayes Logan, and Grace Avery. Plus Christine is also a stepmom to Kevin's children from his previous relationships: Liam (from his 'ship with Bridget), and Joe, Lily, and Annie from Kevin's marriage to Cindy. Kevin has previously told Closer, "I have played two roles in my life, one I get paid to do, which is the movies, and the other one is being a father, for which I’ll be rewarded my whole life."

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