Paul Pierce says losing his Fox Sports income has left him struggling to cover his financial obligations. The former Boston Celtics star is asking a court to reject demands for more money in his ongoing child-support dispute with former partner Princess Santiago.
In court documents obtained by TMZ and reported on October 27th, Pierce’s attorney described him as “drowning financially” and said additional litigation expenses would be difficult for him to afford.
The dispute concerns support for the couple’s infant son, King Rafael Santiago Pierce. Santiago has challenged the completeness of Pierce’s financial disclosures and wants professional assistance examining the resources available to him.
Pierce, 49, earned approximately $200 million in salary across 19 NBA seasons before retiring in 2017. His latest declaration details the income, assets and expenses he says now determine what he can pay.
Pierce Says His Final Fox Sports Check Arrived in August
View this post on Instagram
Pierce reported average monthly income of approximately $119,000 before the Fox payments ended, saying his last check arrived in August 2026. He also acknowledged receiving about $23,000 during the previous month from partnership interests in other businesses.
He joined Fox Sports in 2024, appearing on Undisputed before moving to Speak with Joy Taylor and Keyshawn Johnson. The role became part of a television career that followed his retirement from basketball.
Speak was canceled in July 2025, alongside Breakfast Ball and The Facility, according to Sports Business Journal. Pierce’s account indicates that payments connected to his Fox agreement continued after the program left the schedule.
His Declared Budget Includes $7,000 a Month for Restaurants
Pierce listed approximately $300,000 in bank accounts and $3 million in property. Those figures describe assets included in his declaration, rather than a complete accounting of his net worth after debts.
He said he pays around $28,000 per month in child support and another $20,000 in spousal support. His reported household bills total approximately $48,000 monthly, including $8,000 for childcare, $7,000 for dining out and $5,000 for groceries.
Other listed expenses include $3,200 for utilities, $3,500 for entertainment and $1,000 for clothing. The figures come from Pierce’s own description of his finances submitted as part of his opposition to Santiago’s request.
Santiago Says Financial Records and an Earlier Payment Are Missing
In a motion covered by TMZ on October 12th, Santiago accused Pierce of supplying incomplete bank statements and withholding information about trust distributions and other assets. She also sought records concerning his cannabis business, Fox earnings and an ownership interest in commercial property.
Santiago requested an additional $40,000 for legal fees. She also asked for payment of the $10,000 previously ordered for a forensic accountant, which she alleges Pierce has not paid.
A prior temporary order required Pierce to pay Santiago $8,508 per month in child support and contribute $100,000 toward her legal fees. The accountant award formed part of that earlier ruling.
Santiago had initially sought approximately $30,000 in monthly support, while Pierce proposed an amount closer to $4,000. He previously told the court that he had voluntarily been providing $5,000 a month.
The temporary support amount remains subject to adjustment as the proceedings continue. Santiago’s accusations about missing disclosures are claims raised in the dispute, rather than findings that Pierce concealed assets.
Pierce Previously Recalled Having $10,000 Left After His Rookie Year
During an October 2025 appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay, Pierce described how little remained from his first season’s earnings after the NBA lockout, taxes, agent fees and living costs.
He recalled expecting approximately $1 million for the year, then receiving less because of the shortened season. After deductions, rent and transportation expenses, he estimated that he finished his rookie year with roughly $10,000.
The conversation also covered how spending increased as his contracts grew. Pierce discussed buying a home, supporting relatives and paying for friends’ travel, meals and accommodation.
“It can go faster than you think,” he said.
Pierce credited endorsement deals with helping him separate personal spending from basketball earnings. He told Sharpe that he used endorsement money to cover those expenses while setting his NBA income aside.