Paul Pierce earned over €174M but claims he is broke and unable to pay ex-wife

After earning more than $195 million (€174 million) in salary alone across 20 NBA seasons—roughly half of which went to taxes—Paul Pierce has revealed he is facing a severe financial squeeze. According to reports by TMZ, the 2007–08 Boston Celtics champion claims to have just $300,000 (€268,000) left in his bank account alongside $3 million (€2.69 million) in real estate, stating that he is "financially drained and struggling to keep up with daily expenses."

The difficult situation comes amid high-profile legal battles with his ex-wife, Princess Santiago, over child and spousal support payments and the disclosure of financial records. Faced with his current situation, Pierce has formally petitioned the court to reduce his financial obligations.

The income drop worsened with the 10-time All-Star's recent departure from Fox Sports 1. The former forward—who concluded his playing career in 2016–17 with the Los Angeles Clippers after stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards—moved into broadcasting as an ESPN analyst. He was fired by the network following a controversial Instagram Live broadcast in which he appeared intoxicated around women, before later joining FS1. At Fox Sports 1, where he also hosted a podcast, Pierce made an average of $128,000 (€114,000) per month in 2025 and roughly $165,000 (€147,000) earlier this year, but those payments ended in August following his contract termination.

Despite the loss of earnings, Pierce continued paying nearly $50,000 (€45,000) per month in support to his ex-wife and children. On top of that, he incurs around $8,000 (€7,143) monthly in everyday expenses, including household bills, childcare, food, clothing, and other routine costs.

In the legal dispute, Santiago accused Pierce of a lack of financial transparency, particularly regarding earnings from his cannabis business, commercial real estate holdings, and his Fox Sports salary. In turn, the former NBA star contested his ex-wife's request for nearly $30,000 (€27,000) per month in child support, proposing instead to pay $4,145 (€3,700) monthly, arguing that he no longer maintains the lavish lifestyle from his playing days.

Pierce's situation mirrors a broader trend among several 2000s NBA stars struggling to manage their accumulated fortunes. Trevor Ariza, who played 18 seasons in the league and also won an NBA championship, is another recent example caught in high-profile divorce proceedings and support payment disputes with his ex-wife.