The One Thing Kevin Costner Risked His Fortune, Family Home, and Marriage For

Kevin Costner made a significant financial commitment to a film project, going so far as to mortgage one of his properties. Unfortunately, despite his substantial efforts, the outcome has not been favorable.

Kevin Costner dedicated himself fully to the “Horizon: American Saga” project, a Western film series divided into four parts. This series delves into the expansion of the American West during the period surrounding the Civil War.

The narrative explores the tensions between the Native American populations, whose lands were increasingly encroached upon, and the settlers who were determined to establish themselves there. Through this, a significant chapter of American history is portrayed.

Securing investors for the project proved challenging for Costner. He admitted that there was a lack of confidence from others in his ambitious vision, leading him to personally finance the production to ensure it was brought to life.

The award-winning actor provided the backstory of how he conceived the film project during an interview in May 2023. “I commissioned this story in 1988. Single movie, two-hander. A conventional Western with a beginning, middle, and end. I couldn’t get anybody to make it,” he divulged.

After the success of “Open Range,” there was an opportunity with Disney. But a $5 million difference in budget negotiations prevented the project from moving forward, despite the studio’s financial gains from the previous film.

Undeterred, eight years later, Costner revisited the idea, began writing with a partner, and eventually developed it into four screenplays. By reverse-engineering the concept back to 1988, he believed the story was strong. However, even then, he struggled to find anyone willing to produce it.

Recognizing that bringing the project to life would be a significant challenge, the actor understood that a drastic decision was necessary. As a result, he made a considerable sacrifice, much to the frustration of his accountant.

“I’ve mortgaged 10 acres on the water in Santa Barbara where I was going to build my last house. But I did it without a thought. […] But it’s my life, and I believe in the idea and the story,” Costner revealed.

The “Yellowstone” alum expressed his unwavering belief in the project, emphasizing that his determination to see it come to fruition never faltered.

“At the end of the day, I’m a storyteller, and I went ahead and put my own money into it. […] I don’t know why, but I have not let go of this one,” Costner explained. He mentioned that, on three occasions in his career, he had gone all in on a project without hesitation. This marks the fourth time he has done so.

The movie star shared that he is on track to spend $98 million on the first three films of his Western series, with the fourth installment pushing the total investment beyond $100 million.

During a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, just one day after “Horizon” premiered, the Oscar-winning actor elaborated on his decision to bet on his own vision by using his personal assets.

“I’ve acquired — I don’t need four homes. I’ll risk those homes to make my movies. I want to leave them to my children, but my children will have to live their own lives,” said the father of seven of his sacrifice to make the film.

Costner conveyed his confusion regarding those who failed to grasp his vision for the film he aimed to create. He remains confident that other films are not superior to his own. “I made it for the people,” said the Hollywood veteran.

The project’s lead character is named Hayes, a name that Costner later gave to his son — who also stars in the film. He explained that the name became a significant part of his journey in bringing the movie to life.

Despite the challenges he faced in securing financing for the project at the time, his attachment to the name never faded. Years later, it became his son’s name as well.

In the process of investing his own money and deferring all his fees for “Horizon,” Costner has demonstrated a similar commitment: the project has evolved into his obsession.

Costner recognized that some might perceive his actions as a gamble, but he clarified that he doesn’t view it that way. “I’m not a gambler. […] I gamble on the love of story. I’m gambling on people, in a sense,” he said.

He admitted that he can’t force audiences to visit the theater, but once they’re there, his goal is to provide them with the best experience possible. That’s what he relies on.

Costner often faces difficulty in gaining support for the films he envisions, despite his confidence in the quality of his work. He consistently finds that the movies he wants to create, such as “Dances With Wolves,” “Bull Durham,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Open Range,” are more challenging to bring to fruition.

Costner is known for his unwavering commitment to projects he believes in, even if they take years to develop. He expressed his desire to return to Cannes in the future with the third installment of the “Horizon” series.

He has already completed three days of shooting for part three and is actively seeking additional funding. In Cannes, he made a point of asking potential investors to contribute financially, emphasizing the need for support to continue the project.

The three-hour film garnered an 11-minute, 40-second standing ovation during its world premiere at Cannes. Costner hinted that Chapter 4 of “Horizon” will prominently feature Native Americans in the storyline.

“Horizon: An American Saga” Chapter 1 was released in theaters in June 2024 through Warner Bros. However, after the first installment underperformed at the box office, the premiere of the second chapter was pushed from August to September 2024. Costner also disclosed that production on “Chapter 3” began in May 2024.

Alongside risking his wealth and family home for his cherished movie project, Costner has also faced the challenges of a failed marriage. His now-ex-wife, Christine Baumgartner, filed for divorce in May 2023 following 18 years of marriage. She cited irreconcilable differences and listed their date of separation as April 11, 2023.

An insider revealed that Costner wasn’t entirely blindsided by Baumgartner’s divorce filing. Although he found the filing to be an “unpleasant surprise,” he wasn’t completely shocked by it, said the source.

According to the source, Costner didn’t want a divorce even though he knew that she was unhappy. As for Baumgartner, she had hoped for more family time at their Santa Barbara home, but during filming, Costner’s frequent absences made that difficult.

The insider noted that her husband’s absence had been challenging for her. Moreover, she wasn’t pleased with his ongoing obsession with the “Horizon” project, which had consumed him since the previous year.

The separation resulted in a legal battle between the estranged spouses, who married in September 2004 and welcomed three children: sons Cayden and Hayes, and daughter Grace.

The verdict ruled in Costner’s favor. The judge explained the reasoning behind his decision after both exes took the stand, as they discussed co-parenting their children and the next steps in their separation.

The court revealed its decision on child support: Costner was ordered to pay Baumgartner $63,209 per month, significantly less than the $161,592 she had requested.

Judge Thomas P. Anderle, noted that “both sides made strong closing arguments.” Regarding the ruling, Anderle stated that the “reasonable needs of the children are fully met by this child support order” and that any amount “greater than $63,209 per month” would essentially be “disguised spousal support.”

Before production started on “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” in 2022, Kevin Costner faced significant challenges. In 2021, he experienced the loss of both parents and soon after encountered difficulties with the shooting schedule for “Yellowstone.”

These issues escalated into a contract dispute and a publicized conflict with the show’s co-creator, Taylor Sheridan, and the production companies. Despite these setbacks, Costner managed to complete not one, but two “Horizon” films during this tumultuous period.

Reflecting on the challenges he’s faced, Costner described a moment of introspection, imagining himself in a dark theater, urging himself to rise and push through the difficulties. He motivated himself to find joy in watching his kids play while simultaneously working hard to complete his project.

Costner owns property in Aspen and another piece of land along the beach. It was this oceanfront plot that he mortgaged to finance “Horizon.” It is a decision he had once joked about with his then-wife, who humorously remarked, “one more and we’re out of business.”

When asked about this comment, Costner clarified that his ex-wife hadn’t actually said it; instead, it was his way of being self-deprecating, using the line as a lighthearted way to acknowledge that his actions might seem a bit crazy.

When questioned about whether his divorce and his former spouse’s dissatisfaction with the movie project were connected, Costner responded, “No, they’re not related.”

After investing heavily in the project and taking significant financial risks to secure its funding, Costner faced disappointing results. The first film grossed just over $11 million at the domestic box office the weekend it debuted.

The movie earned just $32 million during its theatrical run, which concluded in August 2024. Internationally, “Chapter 1” earned over $3.6 million, bringing its worldwide box office total to $32.6 million.

Kevin Costner confirmed that he invested $38 million of his own money to produce the first installment of the planned four-part film series.