Kevin Costner Was Homeless Because Of His First Marriage
After Kevin Costner ended his first marriage, he could not live in his own home.
The end of Kevin Costner’s first marriage didn’t just leave him heartbroken. It left him homeless as well. The New York Post reports that according to court filings obtained by the paper, the Yellowstone star was left “unable to live in his own home” after splitting from his first wife, Cindy Silva in 1994.
Costner and Silva were married for 16 years and had three children together, two daughters born in 1984 and 1986 and a son in 1988. Kevin Costner‘s divorce from his first wife didn’t just leave him without a place to rest his head. It also left the actor’s wallet $80 million lighter.
Hoping to avoid a similar situation Kevin Costner made second wife, Christine Baumgartner, sign a prenuptial agreement before they wed in 2004. Now that the couple is estranged, however, Baumgartner is reluctant to be put in the same situation her husband was and is currently refusing to leave the oceanfront estate she shares with Costner. The actor is accusing his soon-to-be ex-wife of making “unreasonable financial demands as a condition to moving out.”
According to court documents, when Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner started discussing marriage 20 years ago, the Dances With Wolves actor made it clear to Baumgartner that he would only consider tying the knot again after certain stipulations were put in place.
The most important was that any residence Costner owned before the marriage would remain his and only his no matter what might become of the union. The documents allege that Baumgartner both understood the importance of Costner’s stipulation and agreed to honor it willingly.
The filing goes on to claim that Kevin Costner has followed the prenup to the letter and fulfilled his financial obligations to Baumgartner despite the lack of cooperation on her part. These obligations include giving Christine $200,000 in the first two years of their marriage and an additional $1 million once a divorce petition is filed.
On top of that Costner has agreed to give his estranged wife $200,000 for a down payment on a new place to live, as well as paying for Baumgartner’s mortgage, property tax, and insurance for the first year.
Baumgartner is currently residing in Costner’s oceanfront compound, which consists of three homes and various other facilities in Carpinteria, California. The Untouchables star purchased the estate—as well as the adjacent property—in 1988, 16 years before he and Baumgartner were married.
Under the prenup, the couple signed, Baumgartner can only lay claim to any residences jointly acquired during the marriage meaning the beachfront estate doesn’t apply.
The one area the couple seems to be in agreement is their kids. The couple have three children together, two sons born in 2007 and 2009 and a daughter born in 2010. Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner have both agreed to share custody of the children, with Costner currently paying for all of their expenses.
The court filing states that Kevin Costner had hoped to return to his home in June after his out-of-town work commitments had ended. When that hope will become, a reality remains to be seen. So far, reps for Baumgartner have stayed mum regarding the situation.
