Kevin Costner’s Fortune: How Box Office Losses and Child Support Impact His $250M Net Worth
Kevin Costner’s $250 Million Fortune: Career Highs, Costly Setbacks & Passion Projects
While most celebrities keep their finances private, every so often, the public gets a rare glimpse into the true numbers behind the fame—and that’s exactly what happened with Kevin Costner. Thanks to a highly publicized divorce and a wave of new career developments, we’ve gotten a closer look at the Yellowstone star’s impressive wealth—and the major expenses that come with it. Here’s how Costner built his $250 million fortune—and where a big chunk of it is going.
A Hollywood Heavyweight from the Start
Long before Kevin Costner became the iconic John Dutton in Yellowstone, he was already a major force in Hollywood. In 1990, he directed, produced, and starred in Dances with Wolves, a film that not only won the Oscar for Best Picture but also earned more than $400 million worldwide. That success cemented his status as a box office powerhouse.
He followed it up with other hits like The Bodyguard alongside Whitney Houston, which also pulled in over $400 million. Throughout the ’90s, Costner continued to rack up successes, earning both critical acclaim and substantial paychecks that helped lay the foundation for his personal projects down the road.
The Yellowstone Boom That Reignited His Career
Although Costner remained active in film throughout the 2000s and 2010s, it was Yellowstone that brought him roaring back into the spotlight. Debuting in 2018, the neo-western drama introduced Costner as John Dutton, the powerful and often ruthless patriarch of the Dutton family.
The role didn’t just revive his public image—it gave his bank account a significant boost. Costner was reportedly earning $500,000 per episode during the show’s early seasons, and by Season 5, that figure had soared to a staggering $1.3 million per episode, making him one of the highest-paid actors on television.
Divorce Drama and Legal Costs
In 2023, Costner’s personal life became front-page news when his wife of 18 years, Christine Baumgartner, filed for divorce. The proceedings were messy, and thanks to court documents, the public got a rare look at the actor’s finances. In 2022 alone, Costner earned nearly $20 million.
Baumgartner initially requested $248,000 per month in child support. After months of legal back-and-forth, the two reached a settlement in 2024 that had Costner paying about $63,000 per month, in addition to covering other child-related expenses. The divorce may be behind him, but its financial impact continues.
A Costly Passion Project: Horizon: An American Saga
One of Costner’s biggest financial gambles in recent years has been Horizon: An American Saga, a multi-part western epic that he wrote, directed, and financed himself. While rumors swirled that he’d invested around $20 million of his own money, Costner later clarified that the real figure was closer to $38 million.
To fund the project, he even mortgaged a 10-acre oceanfront property in Santa Barbara where he had planned to build his “final home.” As Costner put it, “It has thrown my accountant into a conniption fit. But it’s my life, and I believe in the idea and the story.”
Despite the underwhelming box office returns, Costner has no regrets. “People might point to the finish line—well, this is what it did at the box office—but I know that this movie is going to play for the next 50 years.”
