LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The celebrity divorce drama gets messier! Actor Kevin Costner's estranged wife Christine Baumgartner and two of their three children, daughter Grace and son Hayes, were spotted leaving Los Angeles on Thursday, June 29 from the LAX airport. This occurs amid the acclaimed actor's ongoing divorce case with his soon-to-be ex-wife, in which he alleges she is diverting child support alimony to pay for cosmetic surgery costs. The 49-year-old handbag designer was seen walking through LAX airport with her children as she sipped coffee and held onto her bags, as reported by TMZ.
Reportedly, Baumgartner has been refusing to leave Costner's $145 million mansion in the midst of their acrimonious divorce, despite their long-standing prenuptial agreement mandating that she has 30 days to depart their property after filing for divorce on May 1. However, she recently consented to leave the estate with one stipulation: more money. As per court records obtained by Radar Online, Baumgartner stated that if the 'Yellowstone' actor pays his yet-to-be-determined court-ordered support, she will leave the house by the end of August.
According to the source, Baumgartner is scheduled to appear in court in Santa Barbara on July 5 for a hearing on the prenuptial agreement in the split, so the trip shouldn't take too long. Baumgartner and her children were observed walking toward the terminal on a hot summer day while carrying baggage and backpacks.
Actor alleged ex-wife will use $100K for plastic surgery
The estranged couple share three children: Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13. In a shocking change of events, Kevin, 68, has refuted Baumgartner's demand for $248,000 per month in child support. The 'Dances with Wolves' actor claims that a portion of the money is intended to pay for Baumgartner's cosmetic surgery bills and covers non-child support expenses. According to recent court filings acquired by TMZ, Costner's forensic accountant stated that more than $100,000 in Baumgartner cosmetic surgery was included in the $248,000 in costs.
The amount also includes hundreds of dollars in boutique purchases, sizable ATM withdrawals, and other expenses "not to do with child support." Baumgartner's request was deemed "highly inflated and unsubstantiated" by the 'Bodyguard' actor's legal team in a response to her filing, which also read: "Providing the minor children with more than bare necessities does not require providing ludicrous extravagance designed to primarily benefit the supported parent."
In court records, Costner continued to criticize his estranged wife's personal spending, saying: "Christine allocates 60% of expenses such as private trainer, unallocated credit-card expenses, and her plastic surgery to the minor children without any explanation or basis. The children do not use the services of private trainers, only Christine does."
Christine Baumgartner wants more money!
According to the paperwork, Baumgartner agrees to leave the property by August 31 of this year, provided that Costner abides by "with whatever support and fee orders that the court makes on July 12," the date of their next hearing in their divorce. Baumgartner apparently wants to create a "suitable separate household," enabling her to leave the $145 million Santa Barbara home they shared. According to sources, "She wants Kevin to provide what they are used to," which includes private planes and opulent hotels.
Costner apparently already fulfilled his prenuptial requirements by paying his estranged wife more than $1.2 million. In her filing, the mother of three alleged that the actor wants her to leave without a mutually agreed upon "financial plan in place." She said that if she ends up in a rental she cannot afford, it would be unfair to their children to have to move around continuously. Baumgartner reportedly argued that the sum was "less than the amount needed to maintain the children in their accustomed lifestyle."
The prenuptial agreement apparently said that she would vacate the marital residence within 30 days of the filing of a divorce, whereas the divorce decree would provide her 50 days to look for a new place to relocate. Baumgartner anticipates learning more about her financial arrangement during her court hearing on July 12, which will determine where she will live going forward.
