Who Is Kevin Costner’s Wife, Christine Baumgartner, And Why Are They Divorcing?

Kevin Costner’s wife called it quits after 18 years of marriage because the Yellowstone actor claimed he didn’t want their love to end.

Christine Baumgartner, 49, filed for divorce on Monday after marrying 68-year-old Costner in 2004.

The two led private lives and one of the last public appearances they made together was at the Academy Awards in March 2022.

But who is Christine Baumgartner? DailyMail.com analyzes Costner’s second wife’s life and her life with the actor prior to the heartbreaking split.

Baumgartner and Costner were married for 18 years and shared three children between the ages of 12 and 15. Pictured: The couple in 2004

Who is Christine Baumgartner?

Baumgartner is a model and fashion designer with expertise in handbags. She launched her own business, known as Cat Bag Couture, in the early 2000s with her friend Tamara Muro.

Her collection, which initially consisted of laptop bags, was widely available near the sprawling ranch she lived with Costner in Aspen, Colorado.

Speaking about the early days of her career in a 2005 interview with the DenverPostshe recalled Costner being a “supporter” in her career aspirations.

“When I came up with some samples, I showed them to Kevin, and he said they were beautiful and amazing,” she told the news outlet.

“He told me to go to the next step and he would help me. I’ve always loved fashion and style, and if you can combine it with function, it’s perfect.’

Baumgartner is a model and fashion designer with expertise in handbags. In the early 2000s, she launched her own company known as Cat Bag Couture. Pictured: Baumgartner and Costner at a Chanel exhibition at New York’s MET on May 2, 2005

Where did they meet?

Baumgartner and Costner first met in the 1990s when the Hollywood Heartthrob was filming the 1996 movie Tin Cup alongside Rene Russo on a golf course.

At the time, The Bodyguard actor was married to his first wife, Cindy Silva, but they rekindled their spark when Costner and Silva divorced in 1994 after about 16 years of marriage. Silva and Costner share three children together: Anne, Lily, and Joe.

In a 2003 interview with PEOPLECostner recalled running into Baumgartner at a restaurant in 1999.

“We exchanged numbers and I told her I—would mind if I called her in two weeks. I didn’t realize that was an insult to a woman,” he told the news outlet.

It wasn’t long before the two started dating.

Kevin’s older children: Costner was previously married to Cindy Silva from 1978 to 1994 and they share three children – Annie, 39, Lily, 36, and Joe, 35 (seen in 2008)

Why are they getting divorced?

Divorce papers filed by Baumgartner listed the reason for the split as “irreconcilable differences.”

She also filed for custody of the three children she shares with the actor: Cayden, 15, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 12.

Heartbroken, Costner filed his response to the divorce on Tuesday and is also seeking joint custody of their children.

A rep for Costner claimed the divorce was out of the actor’s control and “out of his control.”

“It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have occurred which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of the marriage,” the statement read.

“We ask that the privacy of him, Christine and their children be respected as they navigate this difficult time,” the statement concluded.

There is no mention of Baumgartner filing for spousal support, with Costner’s answer submitted by Laura Wasser.

“Spousal maintenance must be paid to the petitioner according to the terms of the parties’ prenuptial agreement,” Wasser said, indicating that there is a prenuptial agreement between Costner and Baumgartner.

How many children do they have?

The broken-up couple share three children together: Cayden, 15, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 12.

They welcomed their firstborn Cayden in 2007. Two years later in February 2009, they had Hayes.

It seemed that Baumgartner and Costner couldn’t keep their hands off each other, because a year later, in 2010, the two had Grace.

Joint custody: The split is said to be due to ‘irreconcilable differences’, with Baumgartner filing for joint custody of their three children – Cayden, 15, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 12 (seen in 2019)

Baumgartner and Costner were last seen at the 2022 Academy Awards. The two glittered on the red carpet — a photo the actor later shared on social media

When was their last public appearance?

Baumgartner and Costner were last seen at the 2022 Academy Awards. The two glittered on the red carpet — a photo the actor later shared on social media.

“How pretty is my date?” Costner wrote on Instagram in March 2022. The photo was the last photo Costner posted with his wife.

In January, the two would attend the 2023 Golden Globes. But their performance was canceled amid the catastrophic flooding in California.

“No one is sadder than us that we can’t be there at the Golden Globes,” Costner, who was nominated for best actor for his role in Yellowstone, wrote on Instagram.

“Chris had a beautiful dress, I was looking forward to walking the red carpet with her.

The actor claimed his wife made the awards night just for him despite not being able to attend.

“She went out and bought me some gold and yellow and black and silver balloons, and so we go [watch] the television and see what happens,” Costner wrote.