The output power of homemade all-solid-state laser-diode (LD) pumped Nd∶YAG laser above 500 W has been demonstrated in this paper. Experimental setup and the properties of its input-output power were introduced. From the point of gain distribution, the configuration of the LD-pumped laser was optimized. The maximum output power of the Nd∶YAG laser was about 575 W. The output power was increased linearly with the pump power at the slope efficiency of 47% above the threshold. The optical-to-optical efficiency of 26.1% was obtained. Through He-Ne laser probe method, the thermal lens effects of the LD-pumped laser were measured. The focal length of thermal lens was measured and compared with the theory. When the pump power was increased, the focal length was decreased, and a kind of means to effectively compensate the thermal lens effects was used in the experiment.