Kevin Costner Faces Income Drop Amid Bitter Divorce Battle with Christine Baumgartner
Hollywood star Kevin Costner is currently embroiled in a bitter divorce battle with his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner. The couple, who were married from 2004 until Baumgartner blindsided him by filing for divorce on May 1, are now facing further complications as Costner expects his income to drop dramatically following his departure from the hit show “Yellowstone.”
Costner, 68, is said to be the highest paid actor on television and reportedly earned $1.3 million per episode for the last season of “Yellowstone” (source: Daily Mail). However, Baumgartner, 49, claims that Costner earned $24.5 million from the show and other sources after appearing in eight episodes last year.
In court papers, Costner disputes this and states that his income will decrease significantly now that he is no longer under contract for “Yellowstone.” He explains, “The fixed amount, ‘pay or play’ and episodic compensation I received has ceased. Now, any compensation I earn from ‘Yellowstone’ will derive only from my back-end contractual participation rights.” He adds that he has yet to receive any participation compensation from the show this year.
Furthermore, Costner does not anticipate being on location for the rest of 2023, despite the second half of season five of “Yellowstone” set to begin filming next month. He plans to return to California to be with the three children he shares with Baumgartner.
The divorce battle between Costner and Baumgartner took a turn for the worse when Baumgartner filed for divorce on May 1, listing April 11 as the date of separation. Costner responded through his representative, stating that circumstances beyond his control led to the divorce. A source close to Costner revealed that the actor did not want or seek the divorce and would change the situation if he could.
The couple signed a prenuptial agreement when they married in 2004, which entitled Baumgartner to $1.4 million in the event of a split. However, she has been fighting for more money since filing for divorce.
In addition to the financial disputes, the end of “Yellowstone” was announced shortly after Baumgartner filed for divorce. Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, revealed that a sequel series starring Matthew McConaughey would replace the popular show.
“Yellowstone” has been a cornerstone for the network, launching an entire universe of global hits, including “1883” and “Tulsa King.” McCarthy expressed confidence that the sequel would be another big hit thanks to the creative mind of Taylor Sheridan, the show’s creator.
Amidst the messy divorce proceedings, Costner and Baumgartner’s focus should be on the welfare of their three children. It is hoped that they can find a way to reach an amicable agreement moving forward.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Costner’s income will be affected and how the divorce proceedings will ultimately conclude.
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