Kevin Costner's surprise divorce continues to make headlines, with TMZ reporting on Wednesday that Christine Baumgartner, 49, the 68-year-old Hollywood star's estranged wife, is demanding a quarter of a million dollars in monthly alimony from Costner ($248,<> to be exact).
After almost two decades. Costner and Baumgartner, Photo: AP
The couple, who have been together for nearly 15 years, have three children together: Caden Wyatt, 14, Hayes Logan, 13, and Grace Avery, <>, and Baumgartner believes that the quarter of a million greens is an adequate sum (monthly, yes?) that would allow her to raise the three children safely, or rather "live to a standard that will somehow come close to the standard the children will enjoy when they are in Kevin's care," according to TMZ, Baumgartner stated in court filings.
TMZ also reported that the requested amount does not include payments to the children's private schools, health insurance and sports-related expenses, which Baumgartner is separately demanding from Costner.
Kevin Costner, Photo: Reuters
According to Hefrode, a model and bag designer by profession, Costner's total income last year was close to $20 million, while the family's average annual family expenses, before the separation, were about $6.6 million — including taking multiple vacations and hiring private chefs for themselves and their guests.
Meanwhile, TMZ reported that a source close to Costner clarified that the actor is already paying all of his children's ongoing expenses and adamantly refuses to comply with demands for his separation. In Costner's opinion, the amounts Christine is asking for have nothing to do with the children, and at most, as a gesture of goodwill, he is willing to add $38,000 a month to existing payments — but not one cent more.
Kevin Costner, Photo: E. P
It was also reported earlier this week that Costner had personally gone to court, claiming that Baumgartner was refusing to vacate one of his properties where she currently lives, in complete violation of one of the terms of the prenuptial agreement she signed. This condition stipulated that in the event of separation, Baumgartner must vacate the property by a certain date after filing for divorce - and that date has already passed.
On the other hand, Baumgartner explained that she does not have enough money to move, while Costner believes that she has close to a million and a half dollars in her bank account – more than enough to rent a reasonable apartment in a sympathetic neighborhood. To be continued.
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