The Two Women Who Married Kevin Costner: Inside The $80 Million Divorce And Christine Baumgartner's New Chapter

Contents

The tumultuous personal life of Hollywood icon Kevin Costner has been defined by two high-profile marriages and two even more high-profile divorces, leaving a trail of intense media scrutiny and massive financial settlements. As of December 2025, the focus remains sharply on his second ex-wife, Christine Baumgartner, whose recent split from the *Yellowstone* star captivated the world with its dramatic legal battles over child support and property, even as she swiftly moved on to a new life.

The narrative surrounding the two women, Cindy Silva and Christine Baumgartner, offers a fascinating look into the life of a superstar, revealing how the pressures of fame and fortune impacted two very different relationships spanning over four decades. From the reported $80 million settlement of his first marriage to the contentious, multi-million-dollar child support ruling in his second, the financial and emotional stakes have always been incredibly high for the women who married the Academy Award-winning actor.

The Women Behind the Star: A Complete Biography Profile

Kevin Costner has been married twice, first to his college sweetheart, Cindy Silva, and later to model and handbag designer Christine Baumgartner. Both women played central roles during pivotal periods of his career, yet their post-divorce lives took dramatically different paths.

Cindy Silva (First Wife)

  • Full Name: Cynthia "Cindy" Silva
  • Date of Birth: October 29, 1956
  • Place of Birth: California, USA
  • Occupation: Former Actress, Model, Social Activist
  • Connection to Costner: Met while both were attending California State University, Fullerton.
  • Marriage: Married in 1978.
  • Divorce: Divorced in 1994.
  • Children with Costner: Three—Annie Costner (b. 1984), Lily Costner (b. 1986), and Joe Costner (b. 1988).
  • Notable Facts: Cindy reportedly worked as a Snow White impersonator at Disneyland before Costner’s career took off. She had a small role in his directorial debut, *Dances with Wolves*. The divorce settlement was widely reported to be approximately $80 million, one of the largest at the time.

Christine Baumgartner (Second Wife)

  • Full Name: Christine Baumgartner
  • Date of Birth: April 20, 1974
  • Place of Birth: California, USA
  • Occupation: Model, Handbag Designer (Brand: CCC—Christine Costner Collection)
  • Connection to Costner: They first dated briefly in the 1990s and reconnected years later.
  • Marriage: Married in 2004 at his Aspen, Colorado, ranch.
  • Divorce: Filed for divorce in May 2023; finalized in February 2024.
  • Children with Costner: Three—Cayden Wyatt Costner (b. 2007), Hayes Logan Costner (b. 2009), and Grace Avery Costner (b. 2010).
  • Notable Facts: The divorce was a protracted and public battle, primarily over the validity of their prenuptial agreement and the child support amount. She has since remarried.

The $80 Million Split: Kevin Costner's First Divorce From Cindy Silva

The end of Kevin Costner’s first marriage to Cindy Silva in 1994 sent shockwaves through Hollywood. The couple had been together for 16 years, marrying before Costner achieved global superstardom with films like *The Untouchables*, *Field of Dreams*, and the Oscar-winning *Dances with Wolves*. Cindy Silva was instrumental in supporting Costner early in his career, even helping him financially while he pursued acting jobs.

The reported reason for the split was the immense pressure of Costner's rising fame and alleged infidelity, a common narrative that often plagues Hollywood marriages. The most enduring legacy of this divorce, however, is the financial settlement. Costner was reportedly required to pay Cindy Silva a massive sum of around $80 million.

This staggering figure cemented the divorce as one of the most expensive celebrity breakups of its time, providing Cindy with financial independence that allowed her to live a life largely outside the Hollywood spotlight, focusing on her children and social activism. The quiet dignity with which she handled the high-stakes separation stands in stark contrast to the media frenzy that would later surround Costner’s second divorce.

The Bitter Battle: Inside the Christine Baumgartner Divorce and Child Support War

The divorce between Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner, after 18 years of marriage, became one of the most talked-about celebrity legal sagas of 2023 and 2024. Christine filed for divorce in May 2023, citing irreconcilable differences, which immediately triggered a contentious legal war focused on two primary issues: the prenuptial agreement (prenup) and child support payments for their three minor children.

The Prenuptial Agreement and the Carpinteria Compound

A major point of contention was Christine’s refusal to vacate the family's $145 million oceanfront compound in Carpinteria, California, as stipulated by the prenuptial agreement. The prenup reportedly required her to move out within 30 days of filing for divorce. Costner’s legal team argued that she was violating the agreement, while Christine maintained that she needed a suitable new home for the children. Ultimately, she moved out, with Costner providing $200,000 to cover moving costs, as per the prenup’s terms.

The High-Stakes Child Support Settlement

The most explosive element of the proceedings was the child support battle. Christine initially requested a staggering $248,000 per month, arguing that this amount was necessary to maintain the children’s accustomed lifestyle, which included private jets and multiple luxury properties. Costner, however, proposed a lower figure, arguing that his income was fluctuating due to his departure from the hit series *Yellowstone*.

In a major legal ruling, a judge sided closer to Costner's proposal, setting the final monthly child support payment at $63,209. This decision, reached in September 2023, was a significant reduction from Christine’s initial request and marked a turning point in the drawn-out legal proceedings. The divorce was officially finalized in February 2024, bringing an end to the nearly two-decade-long marriage.

Christine Baumgartner’s New Chapter: Engagement and Marriage to Josh Connor

In a surprising and swift turn of events following the finalization of her divorce from the Hollywood star, Christine Baumgartner quickly found new love. By late 2024, the media was abuzz with news of her relationship with financier Josh Connor. Connor is a close family friend and neighbor of the Costners in Santa Barbara, which added a layer of intrigue to the new romance.

The relationship progressed rapidly, and multiple sources confirmed that Christine and Josh Connor were engaged and subsequently married. The wedding reportedly took place in a private ceremony in Santa Barbara in late 2024, with Christine saying "I do" again just over a year after filing for divorce from Kevin Costner. Josh Connor is a divorced father of three, and the couple has been seen celebrating holidays together, including Christmas in New York City.

This new marriage, coming shortly after the intense scrutiny of her divorce, signifies a definitive new chapter for Christine, moving her life forward from the shadow of her famous ex-husband and the multi-million-dollar legal battle. The speed and public nature of her new relationship stand as a final, dramatic footnote to one of Hollywood’s most contentious celebrity divorces.

The Legacy of Costner's Ex-Wives and Topical Authority Entities

The lives of Cindy Silva and Christine Baumgartner are inextricably linked to Kevin Costner’s career, yet both women have established their own narratives. Cindy Silva chose a life of relative privacy after her $80 million settlement, focusing on her family and social work. Christine Baumgartner, on the other hand, navigated a very public, modern celebrity divorce, securing a substantial child support settlement and making headlines with her immediate re-marriage to financier Josh Connor. The legal battles involved numerous key entities, including the specific properties like the Carpinteria compound and the Aspen estate, the prenuptial agreement details, and the staggering financial figures, all of which contribute to the topical authority surrounding the *Yellowstone* actor’s personal life.

Relevant Entities and LSI Keywords: Cindy Silva, Christine Baumgartner, Josh Connor, Kevin Costner, child support settlement, prenuptial agreement, $80 million divorce, Carpinteria compound, Aspen estate, *Yellowstone* actor, *Dances with Wolves*, Santa Barbara, financier, three children, moving costs, divorce finalized, Snow White, Annie Costner, Lily Costner, Joe Costner, Cayden Costner, Hayes Costner, Grace Costner, Hollywood marriages, celebrity breakups, legal battle, *The Bodyguard*, CCC handbag designer.

kevin costner ex wife
kevin costner ex wife

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