A California judge has ordered Hall of Fame forward Paul Pierce to pay Princess Santiago $8,508 a month in child support for their infant son, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
The temporary order covers King Rafael Santiago Pierce, born Feb. 6, 2026. The judge said the court can change the amount as the case continues. Pierce was also ordered to pay $100,000 toward Santiago’s legal fees and $10,000 so she can hire a forensic accountant.
The figure is far below what Santiago sought and higher than what Pierce proposed. In earlier filings she asked for $29,811 a month, citing Pierce’s NBA career earnings of about $195 million to $203 million and arguing he could afford substantial support. Pierce opposed that request and asked the court to set support near $4,145 a month, saying his post-playing income is much lower than his peak NBA years and that he already has large support obligations.
Pierce, who last played in the NBA in 2017 after a career that included a 2008 title and Finals MVP with the Boston Celtics, has said he no longer earns like he did as a player. Court papers he filed this summer listed average monthly income of about $128,000 in 2025 and $165,000 in the first half of 2026, with sources that included Fox, commissions, DraftKings royalties, Fanatics, NBA properties and the YouTube show “No Fouls Given.” He said remaining Fox payments were set to end in September 2026 and that his income would then drop sharply.
He also cited existing obligations: $20,000 a month in spousal support and $24,000 a month in child support for other children. Pierce said he had been voluntarily paying $5,000 a month for King and was willing to support the child. He argued Santiago has significant income of her own, which he put at more than $400,000 a year.
Paternity is no longer in dispute. Pierce acknowledged in April that he is the boy’s father and asked for joint legal and physical custody. Santiago has sought sole legal and physical custody. Those issues remain before the court.
The temporary support order does not resolve the full custody fight or lock in a final monthly amount. Both sides can still present more financial evidence, including the forensic accounting the court authorized.
Flip the pages for photos of Princess Santiago.
