A conflict erupted between Kevin Costner, his estranged wife Christine Baumgartner and tech entrepreneur Daniel Starr, who rented out a guest home from the former couple – and developed a close friendship with Baumgartner.
The latest development in the Hollywood split comes after the Oscar-winning actor, 68, filed court docs to compel Baumgartner, 49, to leave his 10-acre, $145 million beachfront compound in Carpinteria, California in line with their prenuptial agreement.
A source told The Sun about the chain of events involving Starr, 42, who was renting a home on the property, in a report published Monday.
The Dances With Wolves actor-director confronted Starr after learning that ‘Chris and Daniel hung out a lot’ while he was on location working on Yellowstone, the source told the outlet.
Starr had been renting out a beachfront guest house for around $64,000 a month, and Baumgartner ‘would come into his house almost daily,’ the source said.
The latest: A conflict erupted between Kevin Costner, 68, his estranged wife Christine Baumgartner, 49, and tech entrepreneur Daniel Starr, who rented out a guest home from the former couple – and developed a close friendship with Baumgartner. Pictured last year
Details: A source told The Sun about the chain of events involving Starr, 42, who was renting a home on the Carpinteria, California property, in a report published Monday
A rep for Daniel Starr, 42, told DailyMail.com Monday that the tech mogul (pictured) ‘wishes nothing but the best to Mr. Costner in his dispute with his estranged wife’
Eventually, ‘there was a fallout and Kevin got wind of it, leading to ‘a row between him and Daniel,’ from which ‘things escalated from there.’
The source added that after Starr ‘moved in he became close friends with Chris and Kevin,’ and that ‘they’d hang out together with their kids.
‘But Kevin was always away filming, so Chris must have been lonely.’
Starr is a ‘respectful guy’ who didn’t ‘cross any lines’ in his dealings with Baumgartner, the source told the outlet, adding, ‘Chris didn’t like Daniel’s attitude towards their friendship. She texted him and said she wanted him out.’
The Yellowstone star shares three children with Baumgartner – sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, and daughter Grace, 13.
The veteran actor is also father to daughters Annie, 39, and Lily, 36, and son Joe, 35, with his ex-wife Cindy Silva; and son Liam, 27, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Rooney.
The source added, ‘Daniel thought really highly of Kevin and thought he was an excellent father to his kids. But Kevin hit the roof and sided with his wife. Ultimately, he wasn’t willing to hear Daniel out.’
Starr moved out this past March, the source said.
A rep for Starr told DailyMail.com Monday that Starr ‘wishes nothing but the best to Mr. Costner in his dispute with his estranged wife.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to a rep for Costner for comment on this story.
The former couple was pictured with their three children in August of 2019 in LA
Last week, Costner asked a court to have Baumgartner vacate the premises following her May 1 divorce filing , she had a 30-day period to move out of the house he owns under the terms of their prenup
Originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania, Starr is the founder of several web-based businesses including video game streaming service GameMine.
Besides GameMine, Starr also notably sold his international mobile billing company Principal Media in 2016 for around $40 million.
He has also developed a penchant for buying and selling real estate, having flipped a Santa Barbara mansion he bought for $13.5 million in 2021 for $25 million the following year.
Outside of this transaction, he has developed and sold on properties across Southern California totaling over $150 million since 2013.
This included a Beverly Hills mansion that was purchased by recording artist and brand mogul Rihanna.
The latest details come after last week, Costner asked a court to have Baumgartner vacate the premises following her May 1 divorce filing, she had a 30-day period to move out of the house he owns under the terms of their prenup, Radar reported Tuesday after reviewing legal docs in the case.
Costner told the court he believes that Baumgartner is remaining in the home to persuade him to give into ‘various financial demands’ she is making in the wake of the split.
Costner said he has already provided Baumgartner with $1.45 million under the terms of the prenup, providing ample funds for her to procure a new place to live.
Costner told the court that he would be amenable to further financial arrangements in an effort to get her to leave the home.
Costner said in court docs that he’s amenable to ‘contribute as part of his child support obligations $30K per month for a rental house, and is willing to advance another $10K for her moving costs.’
He said in court docs that he is the sole owner of the three family homes; and per the prenup they signed when they wed in 2004, Baumgartner agreed to leave the homes and take her possessions in the case they divorce.
Costner has a vast real estate portfolio, highlighted by a 10-acre beachfront compound in Carpinteria, California that is worth an estimated $145 million.
The home is perched on a clifftop and boasts ocean views. Costner originally designed a dream home with a pool and guest house but, due to family commitments and spending time at his Aspen home, he never got around to redeveloping the site.
Starr, pictured here, sold his international mobile billing company Principal Media in 2016 for around $40 million
Costner said he has already provided Baumgartner with $1.45 million under the terms of the prenup, providing ample funds for her to procure a new place to live. Pictured in 2022
The Dances With Wolves actor-director told the court he believes that Baumgartner is remaining in the home to persuade him to give into ‘various financial demands’ she is making in the wake of the split
The former couple was pictured at the SAG Awards in February of 2022 in Santa Monica, California
The compound includes 500 feet of private beach, surrounded by cliffs, and the actor has built an apparent recreational house on the property which is surrounded by outdoor furniture and umbrellas.
Originally, the parcel of land came with a polo practice field which baseball aficionado Costner converted to a baseball field. The home also boasts views of the Santa Barbara mountains, several islands and its own horseback riding trail.
Costner had already owned a home on the beach in Carpinteria, purchasing a 17-acre parcel of land complete with a modest two-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch in 2006 for $28.5 million. Costner noticed the home when he saw a for sale sign while jogging by.
In 2007, the JFK star sold seven acres of the land to a neighbor, but combined his homes to create one seamless estate.
Costner remarked about how he had mortgaged a piece of his property in a recent interview with Deadline to raise funds for his upcoming film franchise Horizon.
‘I’ve mortgaged 10 acres on the water in Santa Barbara where I was going to build my last house,’ Costner said. ‘But I did it without a thought. It has thrown my accountant into a f***ing conniption fit. But it’s my life, and I believe in the idea and the story.’
Costner also owns a ranch in Aspen, Colorado that spans 160 acres and includes a pair of lakes. The property includes three separate homes which include a total of eight bathrooms and 12 bedrooms, with a capacity for as many as 34 guests.
Costner in late January made the property, known as the Dunbar Ranch, available for rent for $36,000 nightly.
Baumgartner, who has past worked as a model and handbag designer, filed for divorce from The Bodyguard actor on May 1.
Their relationship began in 1998 and they had exchanged vows at his ranch in 2004 in Colorado.
Following the announcement of the split, Costner’s rep Arnold Robinson said in a statement: ‘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.’
Costner ‘wasn’t shocked’ upon learning of the divorce filing, sources told People last month, but news of it came as ‘an unpleasant surprise’ nonetheless.
‘This is not what he wanted. He knew that Christine was unhappy though,’ the source said.
Costner’s busy work schedule had an impact on the relationship, the source added, as she wanted ‘them to spend family time at their Santa Barbara home,’ but he ‘is not around very much’ when he is filming.
The insider said: ‘His absence has been very hard for her. Christine doesn’t want him to throw himself into another project. He has been obsessed with filming Horizon since last year. She wasn’t happy about it.’
