Drafted 10th overall in 1998 by the Boston Celtics, Pierce quickly rose to prominence, becoming a ten-time All-Star and a key figure in the team’s resurgence. His crowning moment came in 2008 when he led the Celtics to an NBA championship and earned the Finals MVP.

As one of only three Celtics players to score over 20,000 points, Pierce solidified his place among legends like Larry Bird and John Havlicek. Off the court, his financial success followed, with nearly $200 million in career earnings, ranking him among the top 25 highest-paid players in NBA history. Let’s dive into how this NBA icon racked up his impressive career earnings.

Stardom and NBA earnings

Born in 1977, Pierce’s journey to stardom began with a modest four-year, $6.3 million contract. But it wasn’t long before his talent was undeniable. In 2001, Shaquille O’Neal famously nicknamed him “The Truth,” and that same year, he signed a six-year, $79 million extension with Boston. As the team’s captain, he racked up All-Star selections and All-NBA honors, while earning nearly $170 million during his time with the Celtics.

By July 2013, Pierce’s time in Boston came to an end when he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. Alongside former teammate Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry, Pierce pocketed $15 million during his brief stint in Brooklyn. A year later, he moved to Washington, signing a two-year, $10.85 million contract with the Wizards. Despite declining a $5.54 million player option in 2015, he remained a sought-after free agent.

Eventually, Pierce signed a three-year, $10.58 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he saw playoff action in his second season. However, after a first-round playoff exit to the Utah Jazz, Pierce’s time with the Clippers was short-lived. He was waived by the team, leading to his retirement from the NBA in 2017.

Just four years after retiring, Pierce was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His career, both on and off the court, continues to leave a lasting legacy, especially as one of the only three Celtics to score over 20,000 points.

Pierce’s big bucks beyond basketball

At the height of his NBA career, Paul Pierce was raking in serious cash, not just from his contracts but also from endorsements. During his peak in the 2009-2010 era, Pierce was earning around $23 million per year, with about $3-4 million of that coming from his various endorsement deals, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Some of these Microsoft, Spalding and Powerade.

But his post-basketball career wasn’t too shabby either. Pierce has also made waves in real estate. Back in 2009, he purchased a stunning 16,000-square-foot mansion in Calabasas, California, for $6.5 million. The property featured everything from an infinity pool to a half basketball court. In November 2020, he listed the mansion for nearly $11 million and eventually sold it for just under $10 million in 2021.

After hanging up his jersey, Pierce transitioned into a new role as a studio analyst for ESPN’s The Jump and NBA Countdown. This move gave him a boost in income, adding to his already impressive career earnings. Unfortunately, his time at ESPN came to an end in 2021 after a controversial live-streamed video.

After the incident he mocked ESPN in his tweet: “@espn I don’t need you. I got @ethereum_max I made more money with this crypto in the past month then I did with y’all in a year. TRUTH shall set u Free 🤪🤪 my own Boss…check it out for yourself.”

However, that crypto deal, as it turns out, would have significant financial consequences for Pierce, obliging him to pay a hefty $1.4 million in penalties on anti-fraud and anti-touting charges for promoting the crypto currency without disclosing he was paid to do so. However, Pierce didn’t admit or deny the charges but agreed to stop promoting any crypto assets for the next three years.

Despite that setback, Pierce’s financial situation remains strong, with his current net worth estimated at around $80 million.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.