Kevin Costner has opened up about his ongoing divorce saga with Christine Baumgartner just hours before securing a major victory in court.
The actor, aged 68, candidly shared his emotional turmoil to Access while outside the Santa Barbara courthouse, saying: "This is a horrible place to be but this is where we’re at.
"It feels so bad, we’re talking about somebody I love on the other side. I just can’t."
Courtroom Drama: Kevin Costner's Emotionally-Charged Hearing
The actor spoke outside a Santa Barbara courtroom following a dramatic two-day evidentiary hearing that ended in his favor. During the hearing, Costner took to the stand twice, first sparring verbally with his ex-wife's attorney and later revealing his anxieties about potentially "being forced to take on jobs" he didn't want, per the Daily Mail.
He expressed continued love for Baumgartner, asserting that he "still has love" for Christine, and mentioned that he hopes for a speedy resolution for everyone involved.
In a win for the actor, the judge significantly reduced Baumgartner's child support payments from $129,000 to $63,000 per month — far below the $161,000 she had requested.
The Tumultuous Financials
During the court proceedings, the Yellowstone actor appeared jovial at times but turned serious when the focus shifted to his earnings from the smash-hit series. He revealed he originally agreed to make three more seasons for a fee of $12 million each, but complications arose leading to ongoing disputes over money and "creative differences."
Costner shares three children with Baumgartner — sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, plus daughter Grace, 13.
A legal document obtained by PEOPLE dated August 26 revealed the alleged spending of the family. Christine's legal team used forensic accounting to dig deep into Costner's finances, discovering his average annual "cash flow available for support for the two-year period of 2021 and 2022 was $19,248,467 per year ($1,604,039 per month)."
Christine's reported filings add that "based on this cash flow, and a 50/50 parenting timeshare, the guideline child support, which is presumptively correct under California law, is $175,057 per month."
Costner's lawyer, Laura Wasser, argued that Baumgartner is making 'unreasonable' financial demands, suggesting that her requests were far beyond reasonable child support and veering into the realm of "overreach".
Lavish Lifestyles and Financial Battles: What's At Stake?
Throughout the hearing, Baumgartner detailed the family's once-extravagant lifestyle, which included shipping 40 tons of snow to Santa Barbara for Christmas parties and Aspen vacations at Costner’s sprawling 160,000-acre ranch. Baumgartner, currently renting a $40,000-per-month home, aims to upgrade to a $150,000-per-month residence if she successfully appeals her child support payments.
During Thursday's hearing, Christine's attorney, John Rydell, said that living a luxurious life is "in their DNA at this point" - referring to the three children - as he went on to list all the sports the kids are involved in and the family's luxury homes.
What's Next for Kevin Costner?
As well as the ongoing divorce proceedings, Costner currently remains in the spotlight for his career. The actor is caught in an ongoing battle over his hit series Yellowstone, and there are also questions about his four-part film series, Horizon, for which he revealed that he expects a fee of $12 million for each installment.
A trial in November will address the couple's prenuptial agreement and Baumgartner's request for spousal support. Per PEOPLE, Christine is entitled to a $1.5 million payout, per the terms of their prenup. However, she has since revealed that she allegedly felt "pressured" to sign the agreement.
