EXCLUSIVE Kevin Costner’s ex-wife Christine Baumgartner says she’s not surprised he’s moved on – but is glad it’s with Jewel and not some ‘fame-seeking bimbo’ to come along and play mom to their three children

• Christine Baumgartner  is ‘not surprised’ ex Kevin Costner is dating again, telling a friend seeing him with Jewel is ‘bittersweet’
• ‘He didn’t need to make it so obvious by wrapping his arms around her,’ Christine told a friend after photos emerged of Costner and Jewel getting very close 
• The Yellowstone actor and Baumgartner finalized their contentious divorce in September after 19 years of marriage 

Kevin Costner’s ex-wife says it’s ‘bittersweet’ to see her Yellowstone actor ex dating just three months after their contentious divorce was finalized. 

But Christine Baumgartner thinks it could have been worse, telling a friend the last thing she would want is some fame-seeking bimbo to come along and play mom to their children.

It was revealed last week that Costner, 68, and Jewel, 49, are dating after TMZ obtained a photo showing the pair getting very close on Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.

‘Christine said she’s not surprised that Kevin has moved on so quickly, but he didn’t need to make it so obvious by wrapping his arms around her.’ a close friend tells DailyMail.com,

The source added that Christine is relieved that Costner isn’t dating a ‘fame seeker’ and that Jewel seems like a ‘down to earth person.’ 

‘She said she’s happy for him, but it still isn’t a great feeling seeing your ex with someone new,’ the friend said. 

A close friend of Christine Baumgartner tells DailyMail.com that she is ‘not surprised’ that ex Kevin Costner has moved on so quickly. Costner was pictured with his hands wrapped around Jewel’s waist during their recent trip to the Caribbean

Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner finalized their contentious divorce in September after 19 years of marriage 

Kevin Costner, 68, and Jewel, 49 (pictured over Thanksgiving weekend) are dating and have mutual pal Richard Branson, 73, to thank for their blossoming romance

The 68-year-old actor and his 49-year-old wife of 19 years had been embroiled in a months-long legal war which met a surprise end in September.

Kevin was blindsided when Christine filed for divorce in May.  

Now that Costner has moved on, Christine told friends she ‘never could have imagined he and Jewel dating, but in retrospect it makes sense.’

‘They’re both into music, into that cowboy thing. What’s not to like about her. At least Jewel is a down to earth person and has her own thing going on,’ our source said. 

Jewel fits Costner’s type: blonde and young

‘Christine said the last thing she wanted was for some fame seeker to come along and play mom to their three children. But Jewel has a son of her own, she has her own life and isn’t a gold digger. So that’s a relief.’

Christine and Kevin share three children, Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13.

Jewel’s son Kase, 12, who she shares with her professional cowboy ex-husband Ty Murray, seemed to be on the trip to Branson’s luxurious island as well.

TMZ shared images showing Kevin’s arms around Jewel’s waist as she spoke into a microphone.

They appeared very flirty and smiled from ear to ear while on the island for a tennis fundraiser for Jewel’s Inspiring Children Foundation.

A source told TMZ, ‘There was definitely something going on. They were flirty, and when they were together, it was like they both just lit up.

‘You could tell they were trying to be discreet, but anybody who saw them could tell something was going on.’

It was also reported that Jewel has been ‘picky about who to date’ but feels Kevin ‘fits the bill’ after her split with Murray in 2014. 

The former couple are seen with their sons Cayden, 15; Hayes, 14; and daughter Grace, 13, in 2019. ‘Christine said the last thing she wanted was for some fame seeker to come along and play mom to their three children. Jewel has a son of her own, she has her own life and isn’t a gold digger. So that’s a relief,’ a source said

Kevin and Christine, a model and handbag designer, began dating in 1998 and married at his Aspen ranch in 2004

It was also reported that Jewel has been ‘picky about who to date’ but feels Kevin ‘fits the bill’ after her split with her cowboy ex-husband Ty Murray in 2014

Jewel fits Kevin’s type: blonde and young. He has also romanced blondes Elle Macpherson, Joan Lunden and Cheryl Teigs, and, of course, his ex wife Christine. 

In July, Christine was kicked out of the couple’s $145million mansion and moving vans were seen outside. 

In her testimony on day one, Christine said she needed more cash to provide a suitable home for their three children.

She said her $40,000-a-month Montecito rental did not compare to the family mansion and complained her sons would have to share a bathroom.

During his testimony, Kevin apologized to his estranged wife, saying: ‘I want to help but the thought of having things inflated to the point I can’t do what I want to do… Somehow in this unusual world, we didn’t make it and for that, I’m sorry.’

The court also heard details of the family’s lavish spending – which totaled $240,000-a-month in 2022.

Expenses included $40,000 spent each month on flowers and gifts alone, although Kevin’s forensic accountant Tracy Katz pointed out the figure is for the entire family, including Christine.

The pair settled and it is likely to be similar to the one previously offered by Kevin in a letter sent on June 30 which would have paid her $75,000-a-month in child support. 

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