Paul Pierce: $300K in Bank, $3M in Property, But Fox Sports Income Gone

Paul Pierce says he is "tapped out" financially and struggling to keep up with court-ordered payments after his Fox Sports contract ended, according to court documents obtained by TMZ ^[1]. The former NBA star claims his last check from the network came in August, wiping out an average monthly income of $119,000.

The New York Post reported ^[2] that Pierce, who earned approximately $195.1 million in salary during his 19-season NBA career, is now navigating a custody battle with his ex-wife, Princess Santiago. Despite his past earnings, Pierce stated he has only $300,000 in the bank and $3 million in property.

Pierce’s attorney argued that his client would have "great difficulty" paying additional fees requested by Santiago, describing him as "drowning financially" ^[1]. Santiago has asked for $40,000 in legal fees and $10,000 for a forensic accountant to review Pierce’s records. She previously claimed Pierce was "playing games" with his financial disclosures.

The financial strain centers on substantial monthly obligations. Pierce pays around $28,000 in child support and $20,000 in spousal support to Santiago, per the court docs cited by TMZ ^[1]. He also reported spending roughly $48,000 a month on bills, including $8,000 for childcare, $7,000 on dining out, and $5,000 on groceries.

In September, Pierce earned about $23,000 from partnership interests in other business ventures, a stark contrast to his previous network salary ^[2]. He is now asking the court to deny Santiago’s request for the extra $50,000, arguing the costs are unmanageable without his Fox Sports income.

The dispute involves their son, King Rafael, born in February. Santiago previously filed for sole legal and physical custody, alleging in August texts that Pierce ignored her during pregnancy and prioritized other interests over their child ^[2]. Pierce had earlier opposed her request for $30,000 per month in child support.

Pierce, 49, played 15 of his 19 NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning a championship and Finals MVP in 2008. His jersey No. 34 was retired by the Celtics in 2018. He currently hosts podcasts, including "Ticket & The Truth" with former teammate Kevin Garnett.