Summary
- Kevin Costner put almost $40 million of his own money into Horizon, leaving a lot at stake for him personally and professionally.
- Costner has taken financial risks in the past, including an alleged gambling addiction that led to his divorce from Christine Baumgartner.
- Despite previous setbacks like Waterworld, Costner is determined to prove his critics wrong and hopes Horizon will be well-received.
Kevin Costner is getting ready to release his new movie Horizon, but there’s apparently more riding on this movie than fans may realize, as Costner has sunk a considerable amount of his personal fortune into the movie. And after his recently divorce and custody battle – which likely incurred a lot of lawyer fees, even though he was successful – it’s a big risk for Kevin.
This Could Be The Biggest Risk Of Kevin's Career
“He’d be disappointed if it isn’t well received,” a source told Us Weekly. Referring to the 1995 film Waterworld, which led to Costner losing $100 million when it debuted, a second source says he’s nervous about what it’d do to his bank account and self-esteem.
“Kevin’s been through this before,” they said. “He always relishes proving the haters wrong.”
Horizon will release on June 28, despite already releasing at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where it was met to mixed reviews.
It’s part of a saga, co-written by Costner and Jon Baird, delves into the allure of the Old West, depicting how it was both won and lost through the relentless efforts and sacrifices of many. Though the future of the franchise ultimately rests on how well the first movie performs.
Covering the Civil War years from 1861 to 1865, Costner’s ambitious cinematic project promises to take viewers on an emotional journey through a nation torn apart, seen through the eyes of families, friends, and adversaries all striving to understand what it means to be the United States of America.
It’s unclear how much of his own fortune Costner invested into the project, but he’s worth a reported upwards of $400 million.
This apparently isn’t the first risk Costner has taken with money, and we’re not talking about movies. One recent report claimed Costner’s alleged gambling addiction led to the end of his marriage to Christine Baumgartner. She filed for divorce last year, which led to a very public court battle.
An insider revealed to Life & Style that Christine was "so terrified they’d wind up broke" that she ultimately chose to leave the marriage. According to the insider, "At least that way she got what the prenup guaranteed her" and avoided the distress of "watching Kevin gamble away all his cash."
These insights follow Kevin Costner's revelation about the substantial personal financial investment he made in Horizon. Speaking to GQ a month before, Costner detailed the extent of his financial commitment to the ambitious film series. “I know they say I’ve got $20 million of my own money in this movie. I’ve got now about $38 million in the film. That’s the truth.”
Costner’s movie debuts in a little under two weeks, and he’s clearly got a lot riding on its success, professionally and personally.
