Contestants on Dancing With the Stars Report Earnings Up to $400,000
Contestants on Dancing With the Stars reportedly earn a base payment of $125,000 for the rehearsal period and the first two weeks of the competition, according to multiple sources cited by Variety in 2019. If participants advance beyond those initial stages, they can earn progressively higher amounts each week, with a maximum potential payout of $295,000 for stars, as noted by sources at the time.
However, Bobby Bones, who won Season 27 in 2018 alongside partner Sharna Burgess, claims he earned significantly more. In a September 2025 episode of Jason Tartick’s podcast, Trading Secrets, Bones revealed his compensation structure: “That show pays OK… Like, first episode, no money. Second episode, $10,000. I think it’s like, $10,000, $10,000, $20,000, $20,000. It ends up being $50,000 an episode if you last.” He added that he began with a base salary of approximately $110,000 and ended up making close to $400,000 from the show.
As of now, ABC has not publicly verified any of these financial details.
Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Eonline
