ABC’s Dancing with the Stars is all set for its season finale next week. The recent semi-finals saw a surprising twist with all five couples going into the finals without any elimination. The finale will air on November 26 and the celebrities and dancers have the responsibility to wow the judges and audience with incredible performances.
But, what is in it for them? For thirty-three seasons, Dancing with the Stars has brought on board multiple celebrities to kill it in the ballroom and multiple other professional dancers have received success with the show. So, how much do the dancers, celebrities, and judges get paid for their appearance? And, how much does the winner earn?
Dancing with the Stars’ Celebrity Contestants’ Salaries Revealed
Many popular celebrities have gone on Dancing with the Stars and have tried their luck. From TV actors, and film actors to NFL players and singer-songwriters, a wide range of accomplished people have stepped into the ballroom to try their luck at the Mirror Ball Trophy. For thirty-three seasons, the glory seems to be unparalleled.
Of course, busy celebrities like Zendaya and Frankie Muniz would have to give their precious time for rehearsals and performances that go up to nine weeks, depending on how good they are. According to Variety, contestants make an initial salary of $125,000 for their first two weeks of appearances on the show and rehearsals.
After their base salary, the contestants reportedly get paid increasing amounts each week they stay on the show. According to US Weekly, the weekly payout for celebrity contestants in 2010 was $10,000 per episode for weeks three and four, $20,000 for weeks five and six, and $30,000 for seven and eight.
If the contestants reach the finals, they reportedly get paid an additional $50,000 for each of the final two episodes.
How Much Do The Dancers In Dancing with the Stars Earn?
The Dancing with the Stars stage has given life to many professional dancers as for the last thirty-three seasons, many have made a mark in the business through the show. While their current salaries are unknown, the previously disclosed figures have turned out to be pretty lucrative for the pro-dancers who rehearse and choreograph with the celebrities.
According to IB Times, veteran dancers earn around $5,200 per week and can earn up to $100,000 per season. The responsibilities of the dancers reportedly include choreographing the performances, rehearsing with the celebrity contestant for 20 hours per week, and then performing on stage.
While veterans have a better deal, new dancers reportedly earn $1,600 per week. Some troupe dancers have mentioned that the salary now that the year only has one season is too low. Lindsay Arnold, a pro dancer who was bumped down to troupe, told US Weekly,
As a backup dancer, back when I did it, yes, because there were two seasons a year. But, with one season a year, no [I don’t think it’s livable], I guess it depends on the kind of life that you live, but living in L.A., paying rent, buying food there, paying for gas, like, you’d be really tight.
Still, the show seems to provide employment to many dancers and the halo effect of being part of the series leads to many other deals.
How Much Do Judges And Hosts Earn?
Since 2023, Julianne Hough and Alfonso Rebeiro have been co-hosts of Dancing With The Stars. Before them, however, Tom Bergeron was hosting the series and reportedly made $150,000 per week initially. His final salary is speculated to be in the $1.5 to $1.8 million range for a season (via US Weekly).
The other irreplaceable part of the reality TV series is the judges. Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba have been part of the show for all thirty-three seasons while the late Len Goodman had a recurring presence on the show till his death in 2023. According to The Sun, the judges made up to $1.2 million per season.
What Is The Prize Money For The Winners Of Dancing With The Stars?
While celebrity contestants have an incredible payday for their appearance on Dancing With The Stars, the winners definitely have a better deal. Apart from winning the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, the winners reportedly have the potential to earn up to $360,000. According to Parade, this figure adds up all the other weekly paychecks they receive.
While there is no extra prize money as such, the finalists reportedly had a pay cut in 2019. Parade reported that the contestants would receive a final payout of $295,000 if they lasted till the final two weeks. Though it was a significant pay cut from the previously mentioned $360,000, it is not a bad figure to take home along with the trophy.
Celebrities’ appearance on the show of course also leads to other deals and jobs, which is a lucrative figure for them.
Dancing with the Stars is available to stream on Disney+.
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