Kevin Costner’s estranged wife Christine slams ‘inappropriate’ $52,000 child support payment proposal

Kevin Costner's estranged wife is asking for a substantial amount in child support amid their divorce and custody settlement.

Christine Baumgartner, a former model and handbag designer, reportedly thinks the amount Costner is willing to pay for their three children isn't adequate.

The pair got married in September 2004 after four years of dating. They share sons Cayden and Hayes and daughter Grace, who are 16, 14 and 13, respectively. Costner has four more children from previous relationships: Annie, Lily and Joe with his ex-wife Cindy Silva, as well as son Liam with former partner Bridget Rooney.

As for the children he shares with Baumgartner, Costner has offered to pay $52,000 (£40,000).

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It seems that the actor's estranged wife, who's also been ordered to leave his house by the end of the month, deemed the amount 'completely inappropriate' and upped the original proposal by about $200,000 (£156,000), Page Six reports.

Baumgartner, who previously admitted to not having worked since her eldest son was born in 2007, is asking for $248,000 (£194,000) in child support, according to new court documents obtained by TMZ.

She claims that her soon-to-be-ex-husband makes $65,000 (£51,000) per month for renting out a beachfront property, pointing out that income alone is more than what he is ready to pay to take care of his three underage kids.

The ex-model also noted that her three children are used to a certain lifestyle which includes personal assistants, helpers taking care of their schedules, alongside taking on grocery shopping, food prep, cleaning and cooking.

For his part, Costner insists the nearly $52,000 he's currently paying is the only 'reasonable' amount he's able to spend on the kids, deeming it more than appropriate.

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The Dance with Wolves protagonist also explained that his 2023 income will decrease significantly since he's left Yellowstone.

"I will earn substantially less in 2023 than I did in 2022," he alleged in court documents obtained by Page Six last week. He continued: "This is because I am no longer under contract for Yellowstone, the principal source of my income last year."

In May this year, it was announced that Costner will be exiting the western series created by Taylor Sheridan. The actor will bow out as patriarch John Dutton in the fifth and final season of the show amid rumours of a feud with Sheridan.

The same month, Baumgartner filed for divorce after nearly 19 years of marriage.

"It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action," Costner's representative said in a statement to People at the time.