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Kevin Costner’s estranged wife Christine Baumgartner turned to a family friend for comfort on a Hawaiian vacation while temporarily escaping the drama of their divorce.
The 49-year-old handbag designer was spotted in new photos taking a scenic seaside stroll on the beach with Costner’s friend Josh Connor walking by her side.
Connor, also 49, is a well-heeled financier who lives near the Yellowstone star’s mansion in Carpinteria, California.
The financier had reportedly gone through a divorce of his own recently.
Christine’s day out with her estranged husband’s friend on Hawaii’s Big Island comes after one of her close friends told DailyMail.com exclusively that she fears Costner ‘wants to humiliate her’ with their divorce.
Friendly trip? Kevin Costner’s estranged wife Christine Baumgartner, 49, was seen vacationing in Hawaii this week with one of her husband’s close friends, Josh Connor; seen earlier on July 20
Close pal: Connor is friends with both Kevin and Christine; seen together in 2008 in Arizona
Christine’s pal: Sources told TMZ that Connor had gone through his own divorce recently. It’s unclear if his trip with Christine has affected his friendship with Kevin
Sources also told TMZ that Connor has been good friends with both Kevin and Christine in recent years.
It’s unclear if his Hawaiian vacation might affect both friendships.
Sources with knowledge of Kevin and Christine’s divorce drama told the publication that she and Josh have been particularly close recently.
However, one insider claimed there is ‘absolutely no romantic relationship’ between the two.
‘They have been good friends for years,’ the source added.
A source told The Sun that Connor had flown out to Hawaii to serve as a ‘companion’ to Baumgartner, and he is reportedly staying at the same swanky Four Seasons resort as her family.
The publication also noted that Connor’s pricy Ferrari California is ‘regularly parked in the driveway of the Costner mansion.’
It added that he has been a ‘confidante’ to Christine as she navigates her messy split from Costner.
Nothing to see here: Sources with knowledge of Kevin and Christine’s divorce drama told TMZ that she and Josh have been particularly close recently. However, one insider claimed there is ‘absolutely no romantic relationship’ between the two
Catching up: Baumgartner was pictured seemingly chatting with Connor during their beach stroll. A source told The Sun that he flew out to Hawaii to serve as her ‘companion’
Connor is the managing director and co-portfolio manager of Oaktree Capital Group, according to the investment firm’s website.
According to his bio, his work regularly focuses on the transportation sector.
Prior to joining the firm, he founded his own investment firm, Connor Capital SB, which was also transportation focused.
Prior to that, he had stints working at Barclays and Morgan Stanley.
On Thursday, ahead of her outing with Josh, Christine was pictured out on a beach on Hawaii’s Big Island in a bikini.
She soaked up some rays with her 13-year-old daughter Grace, and her sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, were also reportedly vacationing in the tropical paradise with her.
Christine’s vacation is somewhat oddly timed, and she has been ordered to vacate the mansion she shared with Kevin by July 31.
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According to the couple’s prenuptial agreement, she was required to vacate the family home within 30 days of either party filing for divorce, a deadline which she overstayed as she contests the prenup in court.
Family: On Thursday, ahead of her outing with Josh, Christine was pictured on a beach on the Big Island in a bikini. She was joined by daughter Grace, 13, and her sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, were also on the trip; seen together in 2019
Good friend: The Sun also reported that Josh is staying at the same Four Seasons resort as Christine and has acted as her ‘confidante’ ever since her marriage to Kevin fell apart; seen in 2014 in NYC
Baumgartner previously said in court filings that she was willing to leave but was staying put until it had been determined that her ex would pay her an appropriate amount of support as she looked for a new home and tried to keep their children in the same amount of luxury that they have become accustomed to.
However, the judge overseeing the case later ruled that she must vacate by the end of July.
Baumgartner scored a mixed victory earlier this month when the judge ruled that Costner would pay $129,000 per month in child support payments.
The judgement is on a tentative basis and will be revisited, though there is usually little change.
The $129,000 payments represent just a little over half of what Christine originally requested, $248,000 per month for her children.
However, it was also a mixed bag for Costner. Although it is far less than his estranged wife’s preferred figure, it is also more than double the $52,000 per month that he had said would be an appropriate amount.
Just a day later, a close friend of Christine’s exclusively told DailyMail.com that she fears her ex ‘wants to humiliate her’ with the ugly divorce drama.
‘Christine said she wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin had her escorted off the property by police,’ the friend said. ‘It was Christine who wanted to make this transition as peaceful as possible for the sake of the children.’
The good days: Baumgartner filed to end their marriage of 18 years in May. Prior to tying the knot at Costner’s home in Colorado, the former lovebirds were in a relationship for six years
They added that Costner has ‘done the complete opposite.
‘He’s not thinking about the kids, about how traumatizing this is,’ the source said.
Baumgartner filed to end her marriage of 18 years in May. She and Costner previously dated for six years before they wed at his home in Aspen, Colorado, in 2004.
A decade earlier, he finalized his divorce from his first wife Cindy Silva, whom he had married in 1978.
One of the major sticking points about Christine’s move is the sum Kevin offered her via the prenup. He deposited $1.5 million, the previously agreed-upon amount, for her to find a new home.
He has also offered his ex $30,000 per month to rent a new place until she finds something permanent, along with $10,000 to cover moving expenses.
However, the tony area where the two live has particularly expensive houses and real estates compared to the rest of the country and even much of California, possibly making it difficult for her to find a home near enough to their children while maintaining the standard of luxury that they are accustomed to.
Baumgartner’s friend saod: ‘Kevin knows that finding a suitable place to rent in the Padaro Lane community is going to cost much more than what he was originally offering Christine.
Paying her off: Costner has offered $1.5M for Baumgartner for a new home, along with $30K per month to rent a place until finding something permanent, plus $10K in moving expenses and the use of the house staff to help; seen with the kids in 2015
‘He could have made this easy. He could have offered an amount that made it viable to continue living in the community, but he’s opted to punish her.’
Baumgartner previously said in court filings that she has no income currently.
Costner recently accused his ex of buying a new car ahead of the divorce in hopes of keeping it afterward, as well as allegedly charging expenses for her legal team to credit cards belonging to their household staff, though he pays the cards.
In new documents obtained by Entertainment Tonight, Christine said she had no plans to ‘strip’ the house while moving out, and she said she would share pictures of any items owned in whole or part by Kevin to his attorneys to request that she be allowed to take them with her.
