Kevin Costner spoke up during his divorce hearing, laughing at times and engaging in an angry war of words with his ex-wife’s lawyer in others.
He testifies to his personal wealth and asks if he thinks his new rental home is “comparable” to his sprawling beachfront property.
When asked if the single property compares to his five-lot complex, the veteran actor replied, “I only live in one of the properties, so I think they’re comparable. I don’t think they are equal.
When asked by attorney John Rydell if he’d swap homes with his ex, Costner, wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses, burst out laughing and joked, “That’s tricky!”
He continued, “No, I wouldn’t, but not because I don’t think this house compares.
“I raised three children at home, their hands are in stone. I think most people would understand that.
Smiling, he added, “There are certain features (of Baumgartner’s new home) that I wish I had in mine.”
Kevin Costner is due to take the stand Friday morning and will be questioned by his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner’s legal team.
Christine arrives in court Friday for the second day of her custody hearing.
Costner’s testimony follows a morning dominated by squabbles over numbers and whether or not to take into account the actor’s tax debts.
At one point, the actor was seen acquiescing when his attorney Susan Wiesner asked forensic accountant Jill Bombino to agree that his taxes hadn’t been deducted from his numbers.
Rydell claimed it was because Costner failed to submit his tax returns to his wife’s team.
Costner and Baumgartner arrived early for the second day, Costner sneaking through a side door in a tailored navy blue suit. Baumgartner wore black pants and a white blouse, accompanied by her lawyer Laura Wasser.
Costner’s new role is due to his ongoing divorce battle, with the pair squabbling over child support payments — he wants to pay $60,000 a month while she’s demanding $161,592.
On the opening day of the two-day hearing, the court heard how Costner earned $1,468,953 a month and lived on a sprawling beachfront property with five lots inside worth between 75 and 95 million dollars according to Baumgartner.
She is currently renting a luxury home for $40,000 a month but says it’s not good enough for their family and wants to trade up to $150,000 a month near her old home if she can get her child support for children. bumped into.
During his testimony, Baumgartner described the family’s lavish lifestyle, including Christmas parties during which the two men shipped 40 tons of snow for the sunny Santa Barbara and Aspen holidays in the Costner’s 160,000 acre ranch.
But things got tense when the subject of Josh Connor – a family friend she traveled to Hawaii with last month – came up.
Costner accused her of having a relationship with recently divorced Connor. As a result, Baumgartner was forced to deny that the two men were part of the stand and had to attempt to explain the two envelopes of money he gave her, each containing $10,000.
One was given to his mother who, until the separation, had monthly payments of $5,000 a month for her mortgage.
Baumgartner says she kept the other one at home and eventually gave it back to Connor “because I don’t need the money right now.”
She told the court he dropped the envelopes in her purse after confiding in her that she was worried about her finances due to the ongoing divorce battle.
The mother-of-three also had to admit she borrowed $80,000 from her brother to pay the first installment of rent on her new home, but she blamed it on Costner who she said had already deducted money from her current child support.
She said she has since repaid the money to her brother, but squirmed when Susan Wiesner – one of Costner’s lawyers – asked her if she was considering getting a job or if she was actually planning to. pay his bills using the child support awarded to him.
The hearing concerns the future of their three children: their sons Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and their daughter Grace, 13.
Baumgartner, who moved out of the marital home last month following a legal wrangle, said her new $40,000-a-month rental property in Montecito doesn’t compare to the one she left behind.
Baumgartner’s attorney spoke about the family’s lavish lifestyle in Aspen, Colorado, describing how the ranch features night-lit toboggan runs and music playing through the trees, as well as multiple canoes and lakes fishing.
The 49-year-old also became lively when Wiesner pointed out that she bought her parents a BMW SUV for $50,000 each in late 2022 and early 2023 and acquired a Montecito Country Club membership for her and her family around the same time. .
Deluxe golf club membership fees start at $100,000 but can cost up to $275,000 for the top tier.
Before that, Baumgartner also explained at length why his new residence does not offer his children a lifestyle “comparable” to that which they have with their father.
Adjusting a pair of white-rimmed glasses and speaking confidently, she presented the court with a series of photos of Costner’s Carpinteria property – among them photos showing the bleached-wood deck, an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, a chicken coop and two guest houses.
Interior photos showed decor designed to match what she describes as ‘California living’ with colorful striped rugs, tan leather sofas and a huge marble table with dark wood chairs overlooking the ocean. .
Baumgartner, who appeared in court as ‘Costner’, also spoke about the family’s sporting lifestyle, which regularly includes surfing, fishing, scuba diving and volleyball. .
This includes a boat owned by their 16-year-old son Cayden and a dedicated room set aside for the family’s large collection of surfboards, wetsuits and paddle boards.
Baumgartner opened up about her two recent vacations to Hawaii in March and July with Josh Connor – whom she described as a “family friend”. They are pictured in Hawaii in July
Costner accused her of having a relationship with recently divorced Connor. As a result, Baumgartner was forced to deny that the two men were part of the stand and had to attempt to explain the two envelopes of money he gave her, each containing $10,000.
The Carpinteria property consists of five separate lots, one of which is a former neighboring residence purchased in 2016 and now used as a guesthouse, as well as a site to “sit by the fire and roast marshmallows” and organize family celebrations.
In his opening statement, Baumgartner’s attorney John Rydell referenced the eye-popping sums involved – telling the court that Costner was taking in more than $1.4 million a month.
During his deposition two weeks ago, the Dances with Wolves star estimated his monthly living expenses at $240,000, but doesn’t want to pay his ex more than $60,000 a month.
Rydell also opened up about the family’s lavish lifestyle in Aspen, Colorado, describing how the ranch has night-lit toboggan runs and music playing through the trees, as well as multiple canoes and fishing lakes.
According to Rydell, the property is currently rented for the exorbitant sum of $50,000 a day.
