Kevin Costner Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Kevin Costner’s Net Worth and Salary?

As an American actor, producer, and director, Kevin Costner boasts a net worth of $250 million. During the height of his career in the 1980s and 1990s, he became one of the world’s highest-paid actors, thanks to his performances in successful films like “Dances with Wolves,” which he both directed and starred in, alongside “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.”

In 1991, Kevin reportedly earned $50 million, mainly due to backend points from “Dances with Wolves.” This figure equates to roughly $110 million today. The film garnered seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The following year, backend points for “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” netted him $40 million.

Moreover, he received an impressive $14 million for his role in the 1995 hit “Waterworld.” As of now, Costner has been the recipient of two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Recently, he has received both critical acclaim and public admiration for his performance in the television series “Yellowstone.”

“Yellowstone” Salary

Prior to the filming of “Yellowstone”’s fifth season, Kevin entered into a new contract with Paramount that increased his per-episode salary to $1.2 million for what was intended to be a 16-episode season divided into two parts. The first half aired from November 2022 to January 2023. However, in February 2023, it was disclosed that Costner was in a dispute with the show’s creator/producer, Taylor Sheridan, and Paramount concerning the total filming days required for the second half. Should the second half be filmed, he will have earned $19.2 million for that season. If a sixth season is made, his salary per episode will rise to $1.5 million, totaling $24 million for that season.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Kevin Michael Costner was born on January 18, 1955, in Lynwood, California. His mother, Sharon Rae (née Tedrick), worked as a welfare worker, while his father, William Costner, was an electrician and later became a utility executive at Southern California Edison. Costner is the youngest of three sons; however, his middle brother died at birth. He spent his childhood in Compton, California, being raised in a Baptist household.

Due to his father’s profession, the family moved frequently across different areas of California, especially during his adolescence. He attended Mt. Whitney High School before relocating to Orange County, California, where he ultimately graduated from Villa Park High School in 1973. Following high school, he pursued higher education at California State University in Fullerton, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing and finance in 1978.

Following college, Costner decided to pursue a career in acting, inspired by a meeting with actor Richard Burton who motivated him to follow his long-held, secret passion. Costner made his way to Hollywood through hard work: participating in acting classes, taking on odd jobs, going through auditions, and making ends meet with very little money. His efforts began to bear fruit when, after a brief appearance in a 1974 film, he started establishing himself in the acting scene during the 1980s.

Film Career

Kevin Costner’s memorable performance in the 1987 film “The Untouchables” is widely recognized as a significant milestone in his career.

Considered by many as his “big break,” Kevin Costner directed and starred in “Dances with Wolves” in 1990, a film that secured him two Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. Despite this celebrated role, his career includes a vast array of projects and films.

Costner’s entry into feature films began with “Sizzle Beach, U.S.A.,” shot during the winter of 1978 to 1979 but released much later, in 1981, before a re-release in 1986. Consequently, many believe his first feature was “The Touch,” released in 1983. That same year, he featured in “Table for Five” and “Testament” and appeared in an Apple commercial promoting the Lisa desktop computer model. His work in 1985 included a notable role in Lawrence Kasdan’s “Silverado,” along with the films “Fandango” and “American Flyers.”

In 1987, aside from “The Untouchables,” Costner also starred in the thriller “No Way Out.” His roles in “Bull Durham” (1988) and “Field of Dreams” (1989) further cemented his A-list actor status. Partnering with producer Jim Wilson in 1990, they established the production company Tig Productions, launching with “Dances with Wolves,” where Costner both directed and starred. Additionally, that same year, he appeared in the film “Revenge.”

Following the triumph of “Dances with Wolves,” Costner starred in a succession of films that either achieved critical success or box office acclaim, such as “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” (1991), “JFK” (1991), “The Bodyguard” (1992), and Clint Eastwood’s “A Perfect World” (1993). However, this string of successes was contrasted by several films that failed to capture much attention and were poorly received by critics and audiences alike, including “The War” (1994), “Waterworld” (1995), and “The Postman” (1997). Notably, “The Postman,” a film he directed and starred in, garnered five Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor, and Worst Director.

Continuing his acting career, Costner starred in films such as “Tin Cup” (1996), “Message in a Bottle” (1999), “Thirteen Days” (2000), “Rumor Has It” (2005), “The Guardian” (2006), “Mr. Brooks” (2007), “Swing Vote” (2008), and “The Company Men” (2010). His television debut came in 2012 with the three-part History Channel miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys,” which attracted a remarkable 13.9 million viewers. Since then, he has participated in various films and began his first regular television role in 2018 with the series “Yellowstone.”

Business Interests

In June 2004, Costner established an attraction named Tatanka: The Story of the Bison along U.S. Route 85, just one mile south of Deadwood, South Dakota. His vision was to create an educational venue that would enlighten visitors about America’s history of westward expansion.

to his investment in the Midnight Star Casino in Deadwood. In July 2004, after terminating Francis and Carla Caneva, the casino’s management, a judge mandated that he pay a portion of $6.1 million to buy out the Canevas as his business partners. Subsequently, he appealed to the South Dakota Supreme Court in 2006, upon discovering through an accountant he hired that the casino’s market value was estimated at $3.1 million.

Personal Life

In 1978, Costner married his college sweetheart Cindy Silva, with whom he has three children. Following 16 years of marriage, their divorce occurred in 1994. Ultimately, Kevin consented to an $80 million settlement, which became one of Hollywood’s most expensive divorces at the time.

After his marriage dissolved, Kevin began a relationship with Bridget Rooney, with whom he had a son. Bridget is related to the Pittsburgh Steelers as an heiress, and she is the aunt of actresses Kate Mara and Rooney Mara.

Kevin has also been romantically linked to activist Birgit Cunningham and model/actress Elle Macpherson.

In 2004, he wed model and handbag designer Christine Baumgartner, with whom he shares three children.

Divorce Settlements

In the mid-1990s, Kevin awarded his first wife, Cindy Silva, an $80 million divorce settlement. Adjusted for inflation, this equates to approximately $160 million in present-day dollars.

On May 2, 2023, Christine Baumgartner initiated divorce proceedings against Kevin after 18 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Initially, Christine did not request spousal support, acknowledging their existing prenuptial agreement. According to Kevin’s attorney’s filing:

“Spousal support to be payable to petitioner pursuant to the terms of the parties’ Premarital Agreement.“

However, by mid-June 2023, Christine submitted a request for monthly support amounting to $250,000. Notably, this sum did not cover all expenses related to their children, which Kevin was already addressing. In her filing, Christine alleged that Kevin earned $19.5 million in 2023, while the family’s total expenses reached $6.6 million. These expenses included regular trips to vacation destinations like Aspen, Hawaii, and the Caribbean, where the family often employed chefs and caterers. Additionally, maintenance costs for their various properties were around $2 million per year.

In a subsequent filing, Christine provided extensive details on the family’s 2022 income and expenses. According to her legal document, Kevin’s total income for 2022 was $19.5 million, specifically $19,517,064. Kevin reportedly earns $1.2 million per episode of “Yellowstone,” having filmed eight episodes in 2022, resulting in approximately $10 million of his total earnings. In other income sources, Kevin made $2.3 million in rent from his Aspen ranch and $503,000 from a beachfront property in Carpinteria, California.

The filing suggested that total “family expenses” amounted to $6.5 million, specifically $6,645,285.

A detailed breakdown of the Costner family’s expenditures for $6 million in 2022 is as follows:

• Aspen House Costs: $1,964,294.95
• Beach House Costs: $1,178,147.16
• Gifts: $830,504.51
• Gardener: $542,303.47
• Beach Club Costs: $288,381.24
• Household Help: $84,040.78
• Golf & Club Dues: $34,434.90
• Boat Expenses: $25,806.45
• Spa Service: $21,807.67
• Personal Trainer: $12,851.58

Total Expenses: $5,982,772.71

Christine further claimed in her filing that Kevin mentioned he had once received an offer of $250 million for his Aspen property. This information is in addition…

In the following section, we elaborate on their other real estate assets.

Real Estate

Costner possesses an impressive collection of real estate, showcasing stunning properties throughout the nation. Below are some noteworthy examples:

Aspen, Colorado:

The Costners have a remarkable 160-acre estate in Aspen, which includes three lakefront homes that can accommodate up to 30 guests. The acquisition of this property occurred in three separate transactions. The initial two purchases occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the purchase amounts remaining undisclosed. In 2017, he finalized the property by spending $7.3 million on the final parcel. This estate is available for rental at a nightly rate of $30,000.

Carpinteria, California:

Situated between Malibu and Santa Barbara is the charming seaside town of Carpinteria. Over the years, the Costners have assembled an exceptional estate consisting of three adjacent properties. The first property was acquired in the 1980s, followed by the second a decade later. The third property was bought in 2017 for $7.3 million, marking the completion of their estate.

Additionally, they formerly owned a 7-acre plot in this vicinity, which was sold in 2009 for $25 million.

The Costners possess more than one property in Carpinteria.

In 2006, they invested $28.5 million in a 17-acre undeveloped parcel with stunning ocean views.

Furthermore, they own another 10-acre estate in Carpinteria, which they listed for sale at $60 million in 2017. The asking price was lowered to $49 million the following year, but they eventually decided to remove the property from the market. Here is a video tour of this magnificent estate: