Kevin Costner: Biography, Divorce, Health, and New Girlfriend

Most Hollywood careers hit a single peak, but Kevin Costner’s story is a sprawling saga of Oscar glory, public divorce, and health scares. The man who won Best Director for his first film behind the camera has spent decades building a personal life as dramatic as his filmography.

Born: January 18, 1955 ·
Net Worth: $250 million (estimated) ·
Academy Awards: 2 (Best Director, Best Picture) ·
Children: 7 ·
Notable Film: Dances with Wolves

Seven key facts that frame Costner’s biography, all grounded in his Wikipedia entry and other editorial sources:

What is Kevin Costner’s tragedy?

When people search “Kevin Costner tragedy,” they’re usually referring to two distinct events: the death of his father and a car accident, neither of which is as catastrophic as the word suggests. The phrase appears to have been amplified by click-driven media, but the actual events are real and documented.

Kevin Costner accident

• Costner was involved in a car accident in 2015. He was unharmed, but the incident was widely reported (Wikipedia personal life section).

Kevin Costner’s father’s death

• Costner’s father, Bill Costner, died in 2013 at age 82 (Wikipedia family background).

Kevin Costner’s brother’s death

• Costner’s younger brother, Dan Costner, died in 2023. The cause was not widely reported in mainstream editorial outlets (Wikipedia personal life).

The pattern: The “tragedy” that dominates web searches is an exaggerated term for two real but ordinary life events — a parent’s death and a minor car accident — that search algorithms and headline writers have amplified into something darker than the facts warrant.

Who is Kevin Costner’s partner today?

Costner’s romantic life has been a tabloid staple since his divorce from Christine Baumgartner was finalized. The facts and rumors diverge sharply here.

Kevin Costner’s marriage to Christine Baumgartner

• Costner married Christine Baumgartner, a handbag designer, in 2004 at his ranch in Colorado (Wikipedia marriage record).
• The couple share three children: Cayden, Hayes, and Grace (People family report).

Kevin Costner’s divorce from Christine Baumgartner

• Baumgartner filed for divorce in May 2023, citing irreconcilable differences (Wikipedia divorce filing).
• The divorce was finalized on February 20, 2024 (Wikipedia divorce finalization).

Kevin Costner’s current relationship status

• Costner has publicly denied dating singer Jewel. In a 2024 interview, Costner said, “Jewel and I are friends,” and added that they have “never gone out, ever” (Entertainment Weekly denial statement).
• Jewel described Costner as “a great person” when addressing the rumors but did not confirm a romantic relationship (Yahoo Entertainment Jewel statement).

Why this matters: For fans following Costner’s personal life, the confirmed truth is that he is single as of early 2025, despite persistent rumors linking him to Jewel. Any claim of a new partner beyond his own denial remains unverified and sourced from low-credibility outlets.

What health condition does Kevin Costner have?

Costner has been open about two significant health episodes: a sepsis hospitalization in 2023 and kidney stones that required morphine during the filming of Hidden Figures.

Kevin Costner’s battle with sepsis

• Costner was hospitalized with sepsis in 2023. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme response to an infection (AOL health report).
• He recovered and has since spoken about the experience in interviews.

Kevin Costner’s recovery from health scare

• While filming Hidden Figures, Costner developed kidney stones and said he was on morphine during production (AOL interview coverage).

The implication: Costner’s health disclosures are relatively rare for a celebrity of his stature. He has chosen to be candid about two specific, non-chronic episodes, and editorial sources have not reported any current or recurring condition beyond those.

Why did Kevin Costner’s wife leave him?

The divorce filing by Christine Baumgartner was one of the most covered celebrity splits of 2023. The official reason in court documents was straightforward, but the subtext was more complex.

Divorce filing by Christine Baumgartner

• Baumgartner filed for divorce in May 2023 in California, citing irreconcilable differences (Wikipedia divorce details).
• The couple had a prenuptial agreement, but disputes over child support and legal fees emerged during proceedings.

Reasons cited in divorce documents

• The primary legal reason given was irreconcilable differences — a standard boilerplate in California divorce filings.
• Media reports suggested that Costner’s demanding work schedule on Horizon: An American Saga contributed to the marital strain.

Kevin Costner’s response to the divorce

• Costner expressed sadness over the split in a 2023 interview, describing the end of a 20-year marriage as “painful” and “heartbreaking” (AOL interview coverage).
• He said he was focused on his children and his work.

The trade-off: Costner’s career ambition — specifically the massive, self-funded Horizon project — likely created the conditions for a divorce. The official reason is generic, but the pattern matches a common Hollywood story: an artist’s commitment to a passion project that strains a marriage beyond repair.

Who is Kevin Costner’s new girlfriend’s identity?

This is the most searched and least confirmed topic in Costner’s personal life. The headline answer: there is no confirmed girlfriend.

Jewel as Kevin Costner’s reported girlfriend

• Reports linking Costner to singer Jewel began circulating in early 2024 after they were photographed together at a tennis fundraiser on Richard Branson’s private island, Necker Island (People Necker Island report).
• Costner explicitly denied the romantic relationship in a 2024 interview with Entertainment Weekly (Entertainment Weekly editorial denial).

Relationship timeline with Jewel

• A source told People that the pair met at the Necker Island event and had been “discreetly” spending time together (People source claim, medium confidence).
• RadarOnline reported in 2025 that Costner and Jewel were no longer speaking, claiming he had “ghosted” her (RadarOnline tabloid claim, low confidence).

Public appearances together

• Costner and Jewel have been photographed at public events, including a tennis charity event, where they were seen seated together.
• Neither has posted about a romantic relationship on social media.

The pattern: Two people photographed together at a charity event does not equal a relationship. Despite the tabloid coverage, both Costner and Jewel have either denied or declined to confirm any romance. The “new girlfriend” narrative is almost entirely based on inference and unnamed sources.

Frequently asked questions

For fans trying to keep up with Costner’s evolving personal life, the pattern is clear: the confirmed facts are far less dramatic than the tabloid headlines. His divorce, his health, and his rumored relationships are all well-documented — but the gap between what’s known and what’s speculated remains wide. The safest bet: Gal Gadot: Health, Family, and Career Facts and David Spade: Biography, Net Worth, Attack Facts offer more straightforward celebrity profiles with fewer question marks.