Paul Pierce seeks joint custody after confirming fatherhood of Princess Santiago’s 2-month-old baby

Veteran basketball player and NBA’s Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce currently finds himself in a different kind of water. A recent paternity test has resulted in Pierce acknowledging his fatherhood to Princess Santiago’s 2-month-old baby.

A paternity lawsuit was filed in Jan. 2026 by Princess Santiago, an event director in Los Angeles, against the 48-year-old. She asserted that Pierce was the father of her unborn child and requested a DNA test to verify it.

Now, as per reports by TMZ, Pierce admitted to being the biological father of the two-month-old baby. The report also claimed that he filed for joint legal and physical custody. Santiago’s original filing asked the court to order DNA testing. As months passed, the case grew more complicated. Princess Santiago recently came back with an updated request that included nearly $30,000 per month in child support. The filings also mentioned that she wanted sole legal and physical custody of her baby as well as $100,000 to cover her legal costs.

“For nine months, I went through this pregnancy alone — no financial support, no in-person presence from Paul. Now that the DNA test confirms he’s the father, he’s seeking joint custody?” Princess Santiago told TMZ.

The documents mentioned his NBA earnings, totaling nearly $200 million throughout his professional career. That number was factored into the support calculations Santiago presented. Santiago has asked for $29,811 per month in child support, $100,000 for legal fees, and an additional amount close to $19,000 tied to pregnancy-related expenses.

Pierce, 48, is arguably one of the most well-known and popular NBA players in the sport’s history. Over the course of his 19-year career, Pierce built himself a Hall of Fame legacy, including a championship win with the Celtics in 2008.

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