LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The divorce between the TV's highest-paying actor Kevin Costner and his estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, have been making headlines for a while, and it seems to have turned uglier. Apparently, the 'Yellowstone' star grew "suspicious" of the Baumgartner's intentions with their tenant, according to an insider who shared the information with a news publication, as reported by OK! Magazine.
Daniel Starr, an entrepreneur, and philanthropist, reportedly became a tenant of Costner's guest house at Carpenteria, California, in June 2022. He is said to have been paying $65,000 a month to live in the sea-facing beach house with his four-year-old son. Starr developed a friendly relationship with the owners, which would later become the point of contention for the estranged couple, as per reports. He was, in fact, evicted from the house three months before his lease expired, allegedly because of having a relationship too close to Baumgartner.
'He felt she was inappropriate in leaning on other people'
"Kevin and Christine were both friendly with him," revealed an insider, as reported by OK! Magazine. Several publications even stated that the couple visited Starr often in the guest house. However, things apparently changed when Costner had to leave his home to film 'Yellowstone', leaving Baumgartner and Starr alone on the property. The tech entrepreneur and the handbag designer might have become closer in the absence of Costner, as per a source. At the time, Baumgartner apparently "refused to visit him [Costner] as much," which caused the Oscar-winning actor to grow "suspicious" of the nature of the relationship between his wife and the tenant.
"He felt she was inappropriate in leaning on other people, and he believes that caused her to file so abruptly," claimed the insider. Notably, Baumgartner filed her divorce on May 1 before Costner could serve her the papers. The source further commented that the situation with the tenant might have been the reason why Costner "released a statement saying 'circumstances beyond his control transpired'." "There's a lot of anger and pain motivating their decisions, and they are really lashing out at each other," expressed the source on the divorce between Costner and his estranged wife, claiming that it has become pretty foul.
Furthermore, Baumgartner has reportedly refused to leave the $145 million California mansion before she receives "certain financial needs." "Kevin claims she has to vacate because of their prenup, while Christine is saying she can't leave until certain financial needs are met," said the informant in the end. As per earlier reports, Baumgartner demanded $248k to support the couple's three children.
'I just was a tenant'
Despite repeated claims of Baumgartner's interest in Starr, the 42-year-old businessman has maintained that he didn't have any affair with Costner's wife. Starr claimed that he "never hooked up" with Baumgartner and stressed that they "were just friendly with one another" in an interview with TMZ. Starr even said, "I have no problem with him whatsoever." However, when he was asked whether he continues to remain friends with the couple, he replied, "I just was a tenant. I just had a tenant-family relationship. so yeah, nothing else." "They are going through a divorce. They have kids. I feel really badly. I hope they can peacefully resolve it," Starr stated, wishing the best outcome for Costner and Baumgartner.