Kevin Costner was rumored to have spent $20 million of his own money to help finance his two-part Western Horizon: An American Saga with a $200 million budget, but it was actually $38 million.
‘That is the truth. That’s the real number,” the 69-year-old Yellowstone star confirmed in his GQ cover story on Monday.
‘It’s a kind of independent film. My wife [Christine Baumgartner] and I knew we were going to finance it. We just mortgaged a beachfront property in Santa Barbara. Ten hectares. I said, “It’s a good deal.” And she said, ‘Yes, one more and we’re out of business.’”
Kevin finalized his contentious divorce from his 49-year-old ex on February 16 after 18 years of marriage, but he said the divorce was “not related” to his “crazy” financial gamble.
Costner contrasted himself with Ahab in Herman Melville’s 1851 novel Moby-Dick, saying, “The white whale was so obsessed with him that he would take anyone with him.” I’m not taking anyone down with me. I take the risk myself.’
Kevin Costner was rumored to have spent $20 million of his own money to help finance his two-part Western Horizon: An American Saga with a $200 million budget, but it was actually $38 million.
![The 69-year-old Yellowstone star confirmed in his GQ cover story on Monday: “That's the truth. That's the real number. It's kind of an independent film. My wife [Christine Baumgartner] and I knew we were going to finance it. We just mortgaged a beachfront property in Santa Barbara. Ten hectares. I said, "It's a good deal." And she said, "Yes, one more and we're bankrupt"'](https://nybr.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1716216168_358_Kevin-Costner-gambled-38M-of-his-own-money-and-mortgaged.jpg "Kevin Costner gambled $38M of his own money and mortgaged property to make Horizon films: 'I'm as far out on a limb right now as I've ever been' 2")
The 69-year-old Yellowstone star confirmed in his GQ cover story on Monday: “That’s the truth. That’s the real number. It’s kind of an independent film. My wife [Christine Baumgartner] and I knew we were going to finance it. We just mortgaged a beachfront property in Santa Barbara. Ten hectares. I said, “It’s a good deal.” And she said, ‘Yes, one more and we’ll be bankrupt.’
The two-time Oscar winner — who has dated Grammy-nominated singer Jewel — agreed to pay Christine $63,000 a month in child support to help care for son Cayden Wyatt, 16; son Hayes Logan, 15; and daughter Grace Avery, 13.
Not only did Kevin fight Baumgartner in court, he also fought creator Taylor Sheridan over the filming of Yellowstone and the delays caused by the WGA/SAG strikes, which paused filming on Horizon, which he now wants to expand to two films, despite not having secured financing.
‘So much. Very serious things. And those things are very important,” Costner marveled.
‘I have to deal with them. And I deal with it every day, emotionally, historically almost. And then there are the immediate needs of children. I’m not going to list things; I’m going to stop that immediately. That’s my job, to look at it and deal with it.’
