The Shocking New Life Of Kevin Costner's Ex-Wife: 5 Major Updates Since The $63K/Month Divorce
The narrative surrounding Kevin Costner’s "wife" has undergone a dramatic, high-profile transformation in the last two years, culminating in a series of major personal developments in late 2025. Following a contentious and widely publicized divorce from his wife of 18 years, Christine Baumgartner, the Hollywood star and the handbag designer have both moved on in surprising fashion. As of this current date in December 2025, the focus has shifted from the bitter legal battle over child support and property to the new, separate lives of the former couple, with Christine Baumgartner making the biggest headlines by remarrying just over a year after the divorce was finalized.
The end of the 18-year marriage between the Yellowstone star and Christine Baumgartner sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. The legal proceedings were fraught with tension, revealing intimate details about their finances and co-parenting challenges. Now, with the dust settled, the most recent updates confirm that both parties have found new partners, making the story of "Kevin Costner's wife" a tale of two separate, and newly-defined, second chapters.
Christine Baumgartner: A Life & Relationship Timeline
Christine Baumgartner, formerly known as Christine Costner, is an American former model and entrepreneur who became a prominent figure in the public eye through her long-term relationship with Kevin Costner. Her career began in modeling before she transitioned into handbag design, launching her own successful line, Cat Bag Couture. She is now known for her quick return to the altar following the end of her marriage to the Oscar winner.
- Full Name: Christine Baumgartner (now Christine Connor)
- Occupation: Former Model, Handbag Designer, Entrepreneur
- First Meeting with Kevin Costner: Reportedly met in the late 1980s while he was rehearsing for the film Bull Durham, but they did not begin dating until 1998.
- Marriage to Kevin Costner: September 25, 2004, at his 160-acre ranch, The Dunbar, in Aspen, Colorado.
- Divorce Filing: May 2023, citing irreconcilable differences.
- Divorce Finalized: February 2024.
- Children with Kevin Costner: Cayden Wyatt Costner (b. 2007), Hayes Logan Costner (b. 2009), and Grace Avery Costner (b. 2010).
- Second Marriage: October 2025, to financier Joshua Connor.
The Contentious Divorce: Child Support and the Prenup
The dissolution of the Costner-Baumgartner marriage was anything but quiet. Christine filed for divorce in May 2023, initiating a legal battle that lasted several months and focused heavily on the financial terms of their prenuptial agreement, particularly regarding child support and the move-out date from their shared home.
The Battle Over Child Support Payments
One of the most publicized aspects of the divorce was the dispute over child support for their three teenage children. Christine initially requested a monthly payment of $248,000, arguing it was necessary to maintain the children’s accustomed lifestyle.
However, after intense court proceedings, a judge ultimately sided with Kevin Costner's proposed amount. The final ruling set the monthly child support payment at $63,209. This figure was a significant victory for the actor, representing a major reduction from his ex-wife's initial demand.
The Move-Out Clause and the Aspen Property
The prenuptial agreement stipulated that Christine had 30 days to vacate the family's primary residence—the sprawling $145 million property in Carpinteria, California—following a divorce filing. The legal back-and-forth over this clause became a major point of contention, with Christine initially refusing to leave until a new financial arrangement was secured. She eventually vacated the property, settling the dispute and allowing the divorce to proceed toward finalization in early 2024. This legal drama provided a rare glimpse into the high-stakes complexities of A-list celebrity divorces and prenuptial agreements.
Christine Baumgartner's Surprise October 2025 Wedding
In a development that shocked many onlookers, Christine Baumgartner remarried in October 2025, just over a year and a half after finalizing her divorce from the Dances with Wolves star.
Who is Joshua Connor?
Christine’s new husband is financier Joshua Connor. Connor is not a new face in her life; he was a longtime family friend and neighbor of the Costners in Santa Barbara. The two were first spotted together in Hawaii in the summer of 2024, sparking initial rumors of a new romance.
Connor is a divorced father of three children, making their blended family a total of six kids. The wedding was an intimate sunset ceremony held at a private vineyard in Santa Barbara, surrounded by close family and friends. This swift second marriage highlights a clear desire for a fresh start and stability following the tumultuous end of her 18-year union.
Kevin Costner's New Chapter: Casually Dating Kelly Noonan Gores
While his ex-wife has remarried, Kevin Costner has also moved on, albeit in a more casual capacity. As of late 2025, the 70-year-old actor is reportedly "casually dating" director and filmmaker Kelly Noonan Gores.
- New Partner: Kelly Noonan Gores.
- Relationship Status: Casually dating.
- Kelly Noonan Gores' Background: Gores is an entrepreneur, writer, director, and producer. She is best known for her 2017 award-winning documentary, Heal, which explores the power of the mind and body to heal.
- How They Met: The two met through mutual friends and have been seen together in recent months, suggesting a new and positive trajectory for the actor's personal life after the end of his long-term marriage.
This new relationship marks Kevin Costner's first public connection since the divorce, signaling his own embrace of a post-divorce life. The new focus on his personal relationships comes as his professional career continues to thrive, with his ambitious Western epic, Horizon: An American Saga, being a major point of interest for fans and critics alike.
The Legacy of Kevin Costner's Wives and Family
To fully understand the context of Christine Baumgartner's role, it's important to remember that she was Kevin Costner's second wife. His first marriage was to college sweetheart Cindy Silva, which lasted from 1978 to 1994 and produced three children: Annie, Lily, and Joe.
In total, Kevin Costner is a father of seven children, including his three with Christine and one son, Liam, from a brief relationship with Bridget Rooney following his first divorce.
The family structure is a key entity in the Costner narrative. The three children he shares with Christine—Cayden, Hayes, and Grace—remain a central focus, as evidenced by the high-profile child support battle. The current peaceful co-parenting arrangement is a necessary evolution for both Kevin and Christine as they navigate their separate, but intertwined, new lives. The quick progression of both former spouses into new, committed relationships in 2025 closes the chapter on the divorce saga and firmly establishes a new, complex family dynamic for the Hollywood icon.
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