Former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce says he is struggling to meet his financial obligations after losing his Fox Sports income, according to court documents obtained by TMZ and reported on Oct. 27.
Pierce said his final check from the network arrived in August and that his average monthly income of $119,000 had stopped. He reported earning approximately $23,000 in September through his interests in other businesses, while claiming to have $300,000 in cash and $3 million in property.
The 49-year-old former NBA champion said he pays approximately $28,000 per month in child support and another $20,000 in spousal support. He also reported about $48,000 in monthly expenses, including $8,000 for childcare, $7,000 for dining out, $5,000 for groceries and $3,500 for entertainment.
Pierce is asking a court to reject his ex-wife Princess Santiago’s request for $40,000 in additional legal fees and $10,000 for a forensic accountant to examine his finances. Santiago has questioned the completeness of his financial disclosures, according to TMZ.
The court had previously ordered Pierce to pay Santiago $8,508 per month in temporary child support for their son, King Rafael Santiago Pierce, and $100,000 toward her legal fees. Santiago’s latest request followed that ruling and included the additional $10,000 for a forensic accountant. The court had not ruled on the new request as of the Oct. 27 reports.
Pierce earned approximately $195.1 million in NBA salary over 19 seasons, according to Spotrac. He won the 2008 NBA championship and Finals MVP award with the Celtics before retiring in 2017.
