Former NBA star Paul Pierce has been ordered to pay his ex-partner, Princess Santiago, $8,508 a month in child support for their son, King Rafael Santiago Pierce, although the amount is significantly lower than the $30,000 monthly support Santiago had requested.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, a judge ordered Pierce to make the monthly payments for his son. However, the court noted that the order is temporary and that the child support amount could be changed as the case progresses. In addition to the monthly payments, Pierce was ordered to pay $100,000 toward Santiago’s legal fees and another $10,000 to help her retain a forensic accountant.
Santiago had previously requested $30,000 a month in child support, arguing that Pierce had sufficient financial resources to meet the obligation. As previously reported, she claimed that Pierce earned nearly $200 million during his NBA career and had more than enough wealth to provide the requested support.
Pierce disputed that assessment, arguing that his current financial situation is not comparable to his earnings during his NBA career. He reportedly asked the court to set his monthly child support obligation at about $4,000.
Pierce also argued that Santiago has a successful career and earns a substantial income of her own. The court’s latest order sets the temporary monthly support at $8,508, with the possibility of adjustment as the legal proceedings continue.
