Kevin Costner, after an 18-year marriage with Christine Baumgartner, experienced a divorce in 2023.
Despite post-divorce child support disputes, Christine found new love with financier Josh Connor.
Kevin, reportedly in a new relationship with Jewel, was seen on a Caribbean trip. Both Kevin and Christine have moved on, embracing new chapters.
Actor Kevin Costner has been married twice. The movie star’s 16-year marriage to his first wife, Cindy Silva, ended in divorce in 1994. The pair share three kids, Annie, Lily, and Joe. Kevin also welcomed his son, Liam, when he was in a relationship with Bridget Rooney.
In September 2004, following his divorce from Cindy years ago, Kevin got married for the second time. He tied the knot with Christine Baumgartner, whom he’d been dating since 2003. Unfortunately, the two divorced after 18 years of marriage.
When Kevin and Christine got together, the designer was upfront with him about wanting kids. Later, the actor told Christine that if they were ever going to have children, it would have to be later in life for him. Kevin was hesitant to have more kids.
However, one day, he changed his mind when he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Christine just because of his fears. So, on May 6, 2007, Kevin became a dad again at 52 when Christine gave birth to their son Cayden Wyatt Costner in Los Angeles.
Kevin had nothing but praise for the designer during their marriage. He gushed that his wife had a lot of things to make his life better. “The house is prettier because of her. Everything is warmer because of her. There’s these little things that she does and I think it’s the power of love, but that she makes her home that way,” he revealed.
During the pandemic, Kevin Costner pointed out that his partnership with Christine came into focus as they learned what they do for each other and how they deal with family. The couple went on to welcome two more kids in their union, Hayes Logan Costner, born on February 12, 2009, and Grace Every Costner, born on June 2, 2010.
Kevin and Christine’s partnership in marriage ended in May 2023 when the designer filed for divorce after the two had been separated for a month. The actor’s representative released a statement saying circumstances beyond Kevin’s control had transpired, forcing him to engage in the dissolution of his marriage.
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After their split, Kevin was paying $129,000 per month in child support, but Christine filed documents in court to have the amount increased to $175,057. As per the court documents, the requested amount would not be enough to replicate Kevin’s lifestyle, but it will be adequate to allow Christine and their kids a relatively comparable lifestyle.
The court eventually asked Kevin to pay $63,000 in child support, denying Christine’s request and slashing the amount that she was originally receiving before she filed court documents. In September 2023, the couple’s divorce was finalized after they reached a settlement agreement.
Now, after the divorce, Christine has moved on and is in a relationship with Josh Connor. Josh, who is a father of three, became legally single on January 3, 2023, five months before the designer filed for divorce from Kevin.
Josh is a financier. He is also the founding partner of Connor Capital, an investment firm. Josh also holds a management position at Oaktree Capital Management, a firm that specializes in alternative investment strategies. Josh, who holds a B.A. in Economics from Williams College, has held other lucrative positions.
A source informed the Daily Mail that Josh and Christine met through their daughters, who are close friends and hang out often. Therefore, Josh and his ex-wife Patricia were friends with Kevin and Christine, both living in Montecito, near Christine’s $50,000 a month rental home and Kevin’s $70 million Carpinteria compound.
After filing for divorce, Josh and Christine were photographed on vacation at a villa in Hualalai, Hawaii, in July 2023. The pair took a beach stroll as they talked and laughed. They were seen with Christine’s daughter Grace and Josh’s Abigail.
Kevin Costner’s ex Christine Baumgartner is dating HIS banker buddy Josh Connor just months after denying any romance during their bitter divorce https://t.co/vRrOpy69ok pic.twitter.com/m9rN2w4bYF
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) January 13, 2024
In an evidentiary hearing in court on August 2023, Kevin accused Christine Baumgartner of having a boyfriend, but she denied the allegations. The designer clarified that she and Josh were just good friends. During their time in Hawaii, she shared a room with a female friend.
Still, she admitted that Josh funded the vacation and loaned her $20,000. Christine gave her mom $10,000 and returned the rest to Josh. Kevin’s divorce documents also mentioned that he lacked concrete evidence regarding Christine’s engagement in any romantic relationships outside of their marriage before their separation. However, Kevin was sure he engaged in no affair or had other romance outside of his marriage to Christine.
After this evidentiary hearing, where Christine, under oath, denied that she was dating Josh, the two kept their relationship under wraps until the divorce was finalized. In December 2023, sources told the Daily Mail that Christine and Josh flew the designer to Hawaii in a private jet at Christmastime.
During this time, Kevin was reportedly in Aspen with their kids. The two also made a trip to New York together and have now done little to hide their relationship from friends. In January 2024, Christine and Josh were seen popping in and out of each other’s house despite both having kids with them.
On January 12, 2024, Christine was seen dropping Josh and his home in Montecito, which is five minutes away from hers. The financier wore a black cap, sweater, and blue jeans and had an overnight bag with him. On the same day, Josh made a brief visit to Christine’s home, letting himself in with his own door clicker.
A source told People that at the beginning, Josh and Christine were only friends. The source, who is a friend of Josh, noted that the designer likes hanging out with the financier. As a divorced dad, he understood what Christine was going through. The couple also share a love for the ocean and beach life, something that makes the designer happy.
Another insider informed People that Christine and Josh’s strong friendship has now evolved into a relationship. The two are in the same place in their lives and having lots of fun, so their romance is expected to blossom.
Kevin has also reportedly moved on, as per sources. An insider told TMZ that Kevin is in a “rather new” relationship with Jewel. Jewel is said to be picky, but she wants a good man in her life, and Kevin fits her needs.
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In December 2023, Kevin and Jewel were photographed on Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. The two were participating in a tennis fundraiser for the Inspiring Children Foundation. Jewel is the organization’s founder, and Kevin attended as a guest.
Jewel even shared a post on Instagram and mentioned Kevin, saying he was kind enough to mentor the kids that year. “It’s an incredible time, and one I sue to relax, rest and play w my son!” she wrote.
A source revealed that the pair flew to and from the Caribbean together and chilled for more than a week. The two were flirting with each other, and when they were together, they lit up, which made the source suspect that something was going on between them. “You could tell they were trying to be discreet, but anybody who saw them could tell something was going on,” said a source.
Kevin and Christine went through a tough divorce after close to 20 years of marriage. The two have parted ways but are linked by their three children. Now, they have both moved on and look happy and in love with their new partners.