Why Christine Baumgartner Ended Things With Ex, Kevin Costner, Before Marrying Financier Josh Connor

Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner had long been a much-loved celebrity couple in Hollywood, but it all changed when the latter filed for divorce in 2023, after 18 years of married life. It’s no surprise that the former couple’s split became a major talking point in Hollywood, as fans and colleagues questioned what went wrong after nearly two decades of marriage and a beautiful family of five.

After a stormy split from the Hollywood icon, Christine Baumgartner has found love again, and this time, it’s everything she hoped for. On October 18, 2025, the 51-year-old model and handbag designer married financier Josh Connor in a breathtaking sunset ceremony at the Santa Ynez Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, surrounded by just over 100 close friends and family members.

Image Credit: TMZ

A guest described the celebration as “authentic, heartfelt, and so very them”, as reported by PEOPLE. Their intimate and extremely romantic wedding has become a talk of the town within hours, as fans and colleagues congratulate Baumgartner for getting the kind of love she has always hoped for.

What led to Christine and Kevin Costner’s split?

Christine has finally found her happiness in her new husband, Josh Connor, after one of Hollywood’s most publicized breakups in recent years. Her divorce from Yellowstone star Kevin Costner was finalised in February 2024 after 18 years of marriage and drew widespread attention. Following Baumgartner’s divorce filing, the actor had reportedly been working to save the marriage. 

Ever since the model filed for a divorce in April 2023, she and Costner have gone through months of intense legal disputes till their split was finalised. Kevin, who was previously married to Cindy Silva, was not ready to see his second marriage go down the same track. According to a report by Us Weekly:

“Kevin loves his wife and children, so this has been very hard on him. He is saying that this is his worst nightmare, and he would do anything for his family.”

The former couple, who share three children, Cayden, Hayes, and Grace, went through gruelling proceedings regarding custody negotiations, with Christine citing ‘irreconcilable differences’. According to insider reports, one of the reasons was Costner’s demanding Hollywood career, particularly his Yellowstone commitments and film projects, which took a toll on their relationship. A source close to the family shared:

“Christine wasn’t happy with Yellowstone‘s schedule delays because it caused him to miss so much time with his family. [Costner] was on the fence about doing the show from the beginning. He had to be convinced to do the project. There were months of discussions with Kevin and his family before he did it. He didn’t want to do the show without their input.”

Christine and Kevin’s divorce settlements

After months of legal disputes over family finances, custody, child support, and their prenuptial agreement, Christine and Kevin’s divorce was finalised in February 2024. Baumgartner had initially requested a monthly payment of USD 248,000 in child support for their three children, but it was later settled at USD 63,203 per month. As per their prenup, Baumgartner was entitled to a USD 1.5 million payout. However, the judge cautioned that she could owe over USD 1 million, in addition to legal fees, if she challenged it. Their final settlement was filed confidentially.

How Christine found love again with Josh Connor

Amid the heartbreak of ending nearly a two-decade-long marriage, Baumgartner found comfort in friendship, and before she could even realise, that friendship had blossomed into love. Though she met Josh Connor, a Santa Barbara-based financier, three years ago, their bond deepened after Christine’s divorce. They found solace in shared heartbreak (Connor was also divorced with three kids) and similar values around family, privacy, and simple living.

By January 2024, Baumgartner confirmed her romance with the financier in public, and a year later, Josh proposed in a romantic beachside moment in Santa Barbara, taking Christine by surprise as she was only expecting an intimate dinner date. A PEOPLE source revealed:

“It was about to rain, so almost no one else was on the beach when Josh got down on one knee… They are both over the moon and excited for their future together.”

A glimpse into Christine and Josh Connor’s wedding

Image Credit: TMZ

Baumgartner and Conner’s wedding in Santa Barbara was reportedly a deeply romantic ceremony, with genuine love in the newlyweds’ eyes. For the rustic vineyard wedding, Christine stunned in a custom Mira Zwillinger gown with delicate hand-embroidered flowers, and later changed into a sleek Lihi Hod satin dress for the reception. Meanwhile, Josh wore a custom-tailored black tuxedo.

Image Credit: TMZ

The wedding was beautifully intimate and filled with nothing but love and genuine laughter. Together with the gorgeous setting, the authenticity of it all made the attendees feel they were ‘witnessing something really precious’. A guest told PEOPLE:

“The joy and laughter were infectious, from the welcome celebration Friday night to the last dance Saturday evening. Christine and Josh were glowing. And there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd during the ceremony.”

Now, Christine and Josh are stepping into a new chapter, one defined not by fame but by peace and authenticity. Those close to Baumgartner say she has finally found her peace, and in Connor, she has finally found the home her heart was always searching for.

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