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, largely due to his performances in blockbuster films such as “Dances with Wolves,” where he served as both director and lead actor, and “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.”

In the year 1991 alone, Kevin garnered $50 million primarily because of backend points from “Dances with Wolves.” Adjusted for inflation, earning $50 million in 1991 equates to approximately $110 million today. The movie eventually secured seven Academy Awards, including the prestigious Best Picture. Following that, his backend points for “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” netted him $40 million the subsequent year.

Additionally, Costner received a substantial salary of $14 million for his performance in the 1995 hit “Waterworld.” To date, he has been honored with two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, one Primetime Emmy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Recently, Kevin has earned both critical acclaim and public appreciation for his role in the television series “Yellowstone.”

“Yellowstone” Salary

Before the production of the fifth season of “Yellowstone,” Kevin entered into a new agreement with Paramount that increased his per-episode salary to $1.2 million for what was expected to be a 16-episode season divided into two parts. The initial part aired from November 2022 to January 2023. However, in February 2023, it came to light that Costner was in conflict with the show’s creator/producer, Taylor Sheridan, and Paramount regarding the number of filming days required for the second part. Should the second part be completed, he would have earned $19.2 million for the fifth season. If a sixth season is made, his salary per episode is set to rise to $1.5 million, translating to a total of $24 million for that season.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born on January 18, 1955, in Lynwood, California, Kevin Michael Costner is the youngest of three boys. His mother, Sharon Rae (née Tedrick), worked as a welfare worker, while his father, William Costner, was an electrician who later pursued a career as a utility executive at Southern California Edison. Unfortunately, his middle brother passed away shortly after birth. Raised in a Baptist household, Costner spent his formative years in Compton, California.

Due to his father’s profession, the family relocated frequently across various regions of California, particularly during Kevin’s teenage years. He began his education at Mt. Whitney High School before moving to Orange County, where he graduated from Villa Park High School in 1973. Subsequently, he attended California State University, Fullerton, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing and finance in 1978.

After college, Costner pursued an acting career, motivated by a chance meeting with actor Richard Burton, who inspired him to follow his long-neglected dream. His journey to Hollywood was challenging, involving acting classes, auditions, odd jobs, and meager income. Nevertheless, his perseverance paid off. After a brief role in a 1974 film, he began to transition to full-time acting in the 1980s.

Film Career

Considered a seminal role, Costner’s performance in the 1987 film, “The Untouchables” is widely regarded

His “big break” came with “Dances with Wolves” in 1990, a project he directed and starred in. The film not only showcased his skills but also earned him two Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. Nevertheless, throughout his career, Kevin has been involved in a vast array of films and projects.

Costner technically debuted in feature films with “Sizzle Beach, U.S.A.,” shot between the winter of 1978 and 1979, but it didn’t hit theaters until 1981, and it was re-released in 1986. Consequently, many assumed that his first leading role was in 1983’s “The Touch.” That same year, he also appeared in “Table for Five” and “Testament,” in addition to featuring in an Apple commercial for the Lisa desktop computer. During 1985, he participated in various projects, including a leading role in “Silverado,” directed by Lawrence Kasdan, alongside “Fandango” and “American Flyers.”

In 1987, Costner starred in more than just “The Untouchables,” as he also took on a role in the thriller “No Way Out.” His performances in the subsequent years, particularly in “Bull Durham” (1988) and “Field of Dreams” (1989), solidified and enhanced his status as a leading actor. He joined forces with producer Jim Wilson in 1990 and together they launched Tig Productions. The company’s inaugural project was the epic film “Dances with Wolves” (1990), where Kevin took on dual roles as director and star. That same year, he also starred in the film “Revenge” (1990).

Capitalizing on the momentum from “Dances with Wolves,” Costner went on to star in a series of films that either achieved critical acclaim or box office success. Notable titles from this period include “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” (1991), “JFK” (1991), “The Bodyguard” (1992), and Clint Eastwood’s “A Perfect World” (1993). However, this impressive streak was followed by a series of films that failed to capture attention, facing negative reception from both audiences and critics alike. These include “The War” (1994), “Waterworld” (1995), and “The Postman” (1997). Among these, “The Postman” — which Costner directed and starred in — received particularly harsh criticism, garnering five Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor, and Worst Director.

Continuing to act, Kevin starred in several 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). In 2012, he made his television debut in the three-part History Channel miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys,” which attracted a remarkable 13.9 million viewers. Following this, Costner has featured in numerous films and secured his first regular television role starting in 2018 on the series “Yellowstone.”

Business Interests

In June 2004, Costner established Tatanka: The Story of the Bison on U.S. Route 85, located a mile south of Deadwood, South Dakota. His aim was for it to serve as an educational venue where visitors could learn about the history of America’s westward expansion.

to the investment he made in the Midnight Star Casino in Deadwood. When he terminated the employment of Francis and Carla Caneva, the casino managers, in July 2004, a judge instructed him to compensate the Canevas with a percentage of $6.1 million to buy them out as business partners. Subsequently, in 2006, he petitioned the South Dakota Supreme Court to review this decision after an accountant he hired assessed the market value of the casino to be $3.1 million.

Personal Life

In 1978, Costner wed Cindy Silva, whom he had been dating since college. The couple is the parent of three children. Following 16 years of marriage, their divorce was finalized in 1994, with Kevin agreeing to an $80 million settlement. This made it one of Hollywood’s most costly divorces at that time.

Following the end of this marriage, Kevin entered a relationship with Bridget Rooney, with whom he has a son. Bridget comes from an affluent family and is an heiress to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and her nieces are the well-known actresses Kate Mara and Rooney Mara.

Additionally, Kevin has been involved with activist Birgit Cunningham and model/actress Elle Macpherson.

Costner married model and handbag designer Christine Baumgartner in 2004, and together they have three children.

Divorce Settlements

In the mid-1990s, Kevin settled for $80 million with his first wife, Cindy Silva. When adjusted for inflation, this amount would equal approximately $160 million in today’s terms.

On May 2, 2023, Christine Baumgartner submitted her divorce petition after 18 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Christine did not initially seek spousal support due to their existing prenup agreement. A document from Kevin’s attorney stated:

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

Nevertheless, in June 2023, Christine filed for a monthly support request of $250,000. This amount was astounding on its own and did NOT encompass all the expenses related to their children, which Kevin was already covering. In her submission, Christine stated that Kevin earned $19.5 million in 2023, while the family’s total expenses amounted to $6.6 million. These expenses included regular trips to vacation destinations like Aspen, Hawaii, and the Caribbean, where the family often hired a team of chefs and caterers. Moreover, they spent around $2 million annually on maintaining their various properties.

In a subsequent filing, Christine detailed numerous specifics regarding the family’s income and expenses for 2022. Her legal documents indicated that Kevin’s total income for that year was $19.5 million, specifically $19,517,064. Notably, Kevin receives around $1.2 million per episode of “Yellowstone,” and it is believed he filmed eight episodes in 2022, contributing just under $10 million of that total income. Additionally, he earned $2.3 million in rental income from his Aspen ranch and $503,000 from renting a beachfront property in Carpinteria, California.

The filing estimated the family’s total expenses to be $6.5 million, specifically $6,645,285.

The following is a breakdown of the Costner family’s $6 million expenditures in 2022:

• 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

Moreover, Christine asserted in her filing that Kevin had informed her of a past offer of $250 million for his Aspen property. This indication reflects not only the value of his investments but also his ongoing financial considerations.

We will detail their other real estate properties in the following section.

Real Estate

Costner boasts an exceptionally impressive portfolio of real estate that includes stunning properties scattered across the country. Here are a few noteworthy examples:

Aspen, Colorado:

The Costners possess a 160-acre estate in Aspen, featuring three lakefront homes capable of accommodating up to 30 guests. The property was obtained through three separate transactions. The initial two purchases, occurring in the late 1980s and early 1990s, were made for undisclosed sums. In 2017, the third parcel was purchased for $7.3 million to finalize the 160-acre acquisition. They offer this site for rent at a staggering price of $30,000 per NIGHT.

Carpinteria, California:

Located between Malibu and Santa Barbara is a charming beachside community known as Carpinteria. Over the years, the Costners have assembled an incredible estate comprised of three adjacent properties. The first property was acquired in the 1980s, followed by the addition of the second a decade later. The third property was added in 2017 for $7.3 million.

Previously, they owned a 7-acre parcel in the same locality, which they sold in 2009 for $25 million.

This is not the only property the Costners have in Carpinteria.

In 2006, they acquired a 17-acre undeveloped ocean-view plot for $28.5 million.

They also own another 10-acre property in Carpinteria, which they attempted to sell in 2017 for $60 million. A year later, they lowered the asking price to $49 million but ultimately decided to remove the listing. Check out this video tour of the remarkable property: