How Much They Make Per Ep
It’s one of the longest reality competition shows on air. The Dancing With The Stars host salaries are super impressive. Here’s a look at what the hosts take home.
Dancing With the Stars—or DWTS for short—is a reality TV dance competition based on the United Kingdom series, Strictly Come Dancing. DWTS premiered on ABC in 2005 and has run for more than 30 seasons—pairs celebrities with professional dancers.
Each week, the couples perform predetermined and themed dances and compete against each other for judges’ points and audience votes. The couple with the lowest combined total of judges’ points and audience votes is eliminated each week until only one pair remains. That couple is named the winner and is awarded with the Mirrorball Trophy.
Walt Disney Studios announced in April 2022 that DWTS would move from ABC to Disney Plus for seasons 31 and 32, making it the first live series to stream on Disney Plus. “Dancing with the Stars has entertained fans for 16 years on ABC, and we are excited to bring this beloved show exclusively to Disney+ as the platform’s first-ever live series,” said Kareem Daniel, chairman, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, in a statement at the time. “The show’s broad appeal, as well as the overwhelming popularity of its Disney-themed competition nights, make Disney+ the perfect home for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ while continuing to expand our demographic reach.”
Dana Walden, Chairman of Entertainment, Walt Disney Television added, “Dancing with the Stars has been a beloved staple on ABC for 30 seasons and brought so much joy to millions of viewers. As we’re significantly expanding our unscripted slate at ABC, this is a great opportunity to introduce this show to a whole new generation of fans on Disney+. We’re so grateful to our incredible partners at BBC Studios and look forward to continuing our relationship with them on this spectacular series, which will continue to be overseen by Rob Mills and the talented Walt Disney Television Alternative team.”
Many of the hosts of Dancing With The Stars have been involved in the show in some capacity. Alfonso Ribiero, Brooke Burke, and Erin Andrews all competed on the show and won the Mirrorball or were in the top 3. So what are the Dancing With The Stars host salaries? Read more to find out.
Alfonso Ribiero (2022 - present)
Seasons as host: 31 – present
Season as contestant: 19
Season as guest judge: 21
Salary: Unknown
Alfonso Ribiero’s Dancing With The Stars salary is unknown. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum took the role of main host in season 32 after Tyra Banks left the show in 2023. Ribiero won Season 19 of Dancing With The Stars with professional dancer Witney Carson and returned to guest judge in Season 21. He also hosts America’s Funniest Videos, which he took over the role from Tom Bergeron.
Julianne Hough (2023 - present)
Salary: $500,000
Seasons as a professional dancer: 4 to 8
Seasons as a judge and guest judge: 17 to 21; 23 to 25; 30
Seasons as host: 32Julianne Hough began her career with Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer, which would’ve put her salary at around $100,000.
She returned to Dancing with the Stars in 2014 where she served as a permanent judge for three seasons. When she graduated to judge, she was reportedly earning $500,000 per season. While her salary as co-host hasn’t been revealed, Tom Bergeron—who hosted the show from season 1 to 15—was reportedly earning around $150,000 per episode during his time as host. With 10 to 12 episodes per season, he would have made between $1.5 and $1.8 million a season.
Tyra Banks (2020 - 2022)
Salary: Unknown
Seasons as host: 29-31
Tyra Banks joined as the main host of Dancing With The Stars in 2020 after Tom Burgeron left the show. She also executive-produced the show during her run.
She returned to the show for Season 30, where a source dished to OK! Magazine that she was asking more for her salary. “Tyra is an incredible talent who knows her worth. She has taken a franchise that was a little past its prime and made it into the show everyone is talking about, but even more important than the buzz is the ratings she has been delivering, too. At the end of the day, Tyra is a businesswoman, she deserves a lot more money to return next season.”
On why she left the dancing competition show, Banks spoke to TMZ, revealing that she left to focus on other businesses and producing TV. “I think it’s time to graduate from the dance floor to the stock market floor… from the ballroom to the boardroom,” she said. “I’m an entrepreneur at heart… I think my heart, my soul, is into my business, it’s also into producing new TV.”
Tom Bergeron (2005 - 2021)
Salary: $1.5 million to $1.8 million a season
Seasons as Host: 1-28
Tom Bergeron was the original host for Dancing With The Stars. According to reports, he reportedly was earning around $150,000 per episode during his time as host. With 10 to 12 episodes per season, he would have made between $1.5 and $1.8 million a season
After 28 seasons, Bergeron was let go from the show. In an episode of the podcast, “Sex, Lies and Spray Tans” with former DWTS professional dancer Cheryl Burke, Bergeron revealed that he and the showrunners disagreed about casting former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer in the show, which led to him being fired. Bergeron told Burke that he suggested to the show’s executives that they should stay away from casting any politicians.
“And I said, ‘Guys, this is exactly what we said we wouldn’t do,’” the Emmy winner recalled. “And I would have responded the same way if they had booked Hillary Clinton, whom I voted for. ‘Don’t go there. This is, you know, not the right time. Play to our strengths. Be the show that gives people a break from all this bulls—.’ So, I was furious.”
Erin Andrews (2014-2019)
Salary: Unknown
Season as contestant: 10
Seasons as co-host: 18 – 28
Erin Andrews was the co-host of Dancing With The Stars from season 18 to 28. She won third place in season 10 with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Brooke Burke (2010 - 2013)
Salary: Unknown
Season as contestant: 7
Seasons as co-host: 10-19
Brooke Burke was the co-host from Season 10 to 19 of Dancing With The Stars. She competed on the show in Season 7 where she won with Derek Hough.
Samantha Harris (2006 - 2009)
Salary: $150,000 per episode
Seasons as co-host: 2-9
Samantha Harris was the co-host on Dancing With The Stars from Season 2 to 9. She reportedly earned $150,000 per episode according to NSESC.
Lisa Canning (2005)
Salary: Unknown
Seasons as co-host: 1
Lisa Canning was the first co-host of Dancing With The Stars. She left right after the inaugural season.
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