Paul Pierce Career Earnings: NBA Legend Now Struggling Financially

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Paul Pierce Career Earnings: NBA Legend Now Struggling Financially

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Holleran | Last updated Oct 27, 2026 9:29 AM ET

Paul Pierce is one of the best players in modern NBA history, but the former Boston Celtics great is now struggling financially, he claims in court.

The 49-year-old former NBA star is “drowning financially,” he told the courts in California. Pierce, who won a championship with the Boston Celtics, says that his monthly income has dropped from $119,000 per month when he had a job at Fox Sports, to zero now. Pierce said that he did earn around $23,000 last month from various business endeavors.

Pierce claims that he is “tapped out” while attempting to keep up with his court-ordered payments for child support and spousal support.

The Hall of Fame forward has to pay close to $30,000 per month in child support, plus another $20,000 per month in spousal support. He claims to spend around $48,000 per month: $8,000 in child care, $5,000 in groceries, $7,000 on eating out, $3,2000 on utilities, $1,000 on clothes and $3,5000 on entertainment, among other things.

Pierce says he only has about $300,000 in the bank and $3 million in property. He is asking the courts to shut down his ex’s request for $40,000 in legal fees and $10,000 for an accountant.

INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 22: Paul Pierce talks to the media before the game between the Boston Celtics and the LA Clippers on January 22, 2025 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)Juan Ocampo/Getty Images

Pierce got into media following his NBA retirement, but he lost his Fox Sports 1 job and is no longer employed.

Still, he made a lot of money during his NBA career.

Pierce’s NBA career earnings are high

Over the course of his career, Pierce made close to $200,000,000.

Spotrac tallies his NBA career earnings at $195,132,032. The No. 10 overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft out of Kansas played in the league for 20 seasons.

Year	Age	Team(s)	Status	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	NBA Awards
1998 *	21	BOS	Active	$1,165,000	$1,165,000
1999	22	BOS	Active	$1,503,690	$2,668,690
2000	23	BOS	Active	$1,608,480	$4,277,170
2001	24	BOS	Active	$2,051,271	$6,328,441	All NBA (3rd)
2002	25	BOS	Active	$10,067,750	$16,396,191	All NBA (3rd)
2003	26	BOS	Active	$11,326,219	$27,722,410
2004	27	BOS	Active	$12,584,668	$40,307,078
2005	28	BOS	Active	$13,843,156	$54,150,234
2006	29	BOS	Active	$15,101,625	$69,251,859
2007	30	BOS	Active	$16,360,094	$85,611,953	Champion All NBA (3rd)
2008	31	BOS	Active	$18,077,903	$103,689,856	All NBA (2nd)
2009	32	BOS	Active	$19,795,712	$123,485,568
2010	33	BOS	Active	$13,876,321	$137,361,889
2011 *	34	BOS	Active	$12,341,464	$149,703,353
2012	35	BOS	Active	$16,790,345	$166,493,698
2013	36	BKN	Active	$15,333,334	$181,827,032
2014	37	WSH	Active	$5,305,000	$187,132,032
2015	38	LAC	Active	$3,376,000	$190,508,032
2016	39	LAC	Active	$3,527,920	$194,035,952
2017	40	LAC	Retained	$1,096,080	$195,132,032