Christine Baumgartner, the ex-wife of actor Kevin Costner, has an estimated net worth of $7 million, largely stemming from her life as a stay-at-home mother and her prior handbag business. Their divorce settlement, finalized in 2023, reflects the legal and financial complexities of their 18-year marriage and custody of their three children.
The Kevin Costner divorce settlement shaped Baumgartner’s post-marriage lifestyle, encompassing child support arrangements and property moves, while she has since embarked on a new chapter with financier Josh Connor.
Christine Baumgartner’s Handbag Business and Early Career
Christine Baumgartner first gained notice in Hollywood circles in the late 1990s alongside Kevin Costner. In 2004, she co-founded the handbag brand Cat Bag Couture with friend Tamara Muro. Baumgartner credited Costner with encouraging her to take the business further and acknowledged that his celebrity status boosted the brand’s visibility.
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.
— Christine Baumgartner
Despite this promising start, the handbag venture became inactive by early 2026, with its website taken offline. Baumgartner shifted her focus in the late 2000s to being a full-time mother, dedicating herself to raising her children with Costner.
Plans to Re-enter the Workforce
During her divorce proceedings, Baumgartner indicated her intention to return to education and employment to sustain her independence. She holds a business degree from California State University, Fullerton, providing a foundation for her potential career revival.
Long-Term Marriage and Family Life with Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner’s relationship began in 1998, leading to their marriage on September 25, 2004. The ceremony took place at Costner’s sprawling Dunbar Ranch in Aspen, Colorado, after six years of dating. The couple primarily lived in Carpinteria, California, until their separation in April 2023.
The two officially ended their marriage on February 16, 2024, after about 25 years together. Baumgartner filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences, resolving the proceedings within five months.
Raising Three Children Together
Though Costner was initially hesitant about having children, Baumgartner’s desire for motherhood led to an ultimatum that he ultimately accepted. In a 2020 interview, Costner revealed his decision to embrace fatherhood rather than risk losing the relationship.
I thought to myself I could be divorced again and I [didn’t want to] be divorced again with children… I had to face life and go, ‘Are you gonna miss life, are you gonna miss love because you are afraid?’ The answer finally came back, ‘I’m not going to lose her because I’m afraid.’
— Kevin Costner
Their three children include sons Cayden Wyatt, born in May 2007, Hayes Logan, born in February 2009, and daughter Grace Avery, born in June 2010. Costner also has four other children from previous relationships, including son Liam Costner with Bridget Rooney.
Child Support and Custody Arrangements
Child support was a contentious topic during the divorce. Initially, Costner proposed monthly payments of $51,940, while Baumgartner requested 248,000 South African Rand (ZAR), equivalent to roughly $15,400 at the time, to sustain their children’s accustomed lifestyle.
In July 2023, a Santa Barbara judge ruled Costner must pay $129,755 monthly in child support. However, this amount was subsequently reduced to $63,209 per month in September 2023. Additionally, Costner covers the children’s private education tuition, healthcare insurance, and extracurricular activities.
The ex-spouses share joint custody of their children, allowing both to remain actively involved in their upbringing.
Impact of a Prenuptial Agreement on Divorce Finances
To protect his assets, Costner and Baumgartner signed a prenuptial agreement prior to their marriage. This legal contract, designed to avoid a costly settlement like Costner’s previous $80 million divorce from Cindy Silva, was upheld during their separation.
If Christine, in any manner, challenges or assists in the challenge of the validity or enforceability of any provision of this agreement, she shall lose any and all rights to receive any payment, property or interest from Kevin pursuant to this agreement.
— Prenuptial Agreement Clause
Baumgartner accepted the validity of the prenup, leading to a settlement estimated at about $1 million without spousal support. This avoided extended litigation and trial.
Financial Support Beyond the Divorce Settlement
Although Baumgartner does not receive alimony, Kevin Costner covered her housing costs after the separation. She rented a Montecito home with $40,000 monthly rent paid by Costner, while the actor retained ownership of his $145 million oceanfront estate in Carpinteria and his large Aspen ranch.
New Relationship with Financier Josh Connor
Following her split from Costner, Baumgartner began a relationship with Josh Connor, a longtime family acquaintance and financier. The couple was publicly linked in July 2023 after being seen vacationing in Hawaii. Connor has an established career as a founding partner at Connor Capital SB and previously held senior positions at Morgan Stanley.
Connor, also divorced with children, lived near the Costners in Carpinteria. His close friendship with Costner reportedly made the new relationship a complicated matter, though Costner has not publicly addressed it.
Marriage to Josh Connor and Lifestyle Changes
Connor proposed to Baumgartner in January 2025 on a Santa Barbara beach. They married on October 18, 2025, in a private ceremony at Santa Ynez Ranch, a vineyard estate in Santa Barbara.
During this time, Baumgartner downsized her Montecito residence, moving from a $40,000-per-month rental to a $22,000-per-month home nearby to be closer to Connor. Connor placed his own Montecito property, a nearly 2,900-square-foot mansion with five bedrooms and five bathrooms, on the market for $7.3 million following their engagement.
Kevin Costner himself started a new relationship in late 2025 with author Kelly Noonan Gore, who had recently divorced billionaire investor Alec Gore.
Baumgartner’s Wealth and Future Outlook
Christine Baumgartner’s net worth has remained relatively stable after her divorce from Kevin Costner, thanks in part to the prenuptial agreement that secured her financial settlement without spousal support. Her lifestyle adjustments and recent remarriage signify a new phase focused on family and co-parenting.
The Kevin Costner divorce settlement illustrates the complexities of managing wealth, custody, and personal pursuits following the end of a long-term marriage. As Baumgartner re-enters the public eye with a different focus, her future career decisions and family dynamics will continue to attract attention.
