“Dancing With The Stars” Season 21 is everybody's Monday night addiction. Apart from the stars the show has gathered this season, loyal viewers are also glueing their eyes to their television screens and watch how their favorite pro dancers nail every routine week after week. Given the stress, drama and everything in-between, it’s not uncommon for one to question how much the “DWTS” pro dancers are making, and if they are getting paid enough.
"Dancing With The Stars" pro dancers must be paid more than enough to do the show given that they rehearse and perform for 10 weeks of live shows, and they also do pre-season rehearsals, as per WetPaint. And this is just for one season. ABC's long-running reality ballroom dancing competition runs twice in a year.
Well, this could be true since the pro dancers of "DWTS" were previously paid $1,000 per week. And in 2014, The Ballroom Dance Company revealed that the pros' pay was increased five times, and they were said to be earning $5,000 each week that they stayed in the competition.
Meanwhile, Examiner noted last year that each pro was earning $5,200, and even claimed that veterans like Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, Tony Dovolani and Karina Smirnoff bring home more than the other pro dancers.
The veterans are obviously enjoying their time on the show since it has become a very lucrative opportunity for them. Smirnoff's net worth has reportedly gone up to the $3 million mark all thanks to her participation on ABC's show.
"DWTS" Season 21 frontrunner Bindi Irwin's partner Derek Hough has also made it big in the show since he is now worth $4 million. According to GOBankingRates, Hough scored this big because his he has also branched out into acting.
On the other hand, Hough's sister, pro dancer cum judge Julianne also earned and continues to earn a lot form the show. Her other endeavors in the entertainment industry also helped her secure a $7 million net worth.
Meanwhile, Season 20's mirrorball trophy winner Val Chmerkovskiy has a net worth of $1.5 million. It's not clear if Artem Chigvintsev, Sharna Burgess, Allison Holker, Peta Murgatroyd also earn as much from "Dancing With The Stars," but they are surely paid more than enough by the series that has been nothing but generous to everyone.
Meanwhile, though the "DWTS" pro dancers are generating enough money from their gig on the show, it appears that what they are earning is way smaller than what the show is paying its stars.
The stars of the show are said to be paid $125,000 upfront for the first two episodes only, and they earn a lot more the longer they stay on the competition.
The Stir has learned that Zendaya was paid $10,000 during weeks 3 and 4, $20,000 during weeks 5 and 6, $30,000 on weeks 7 and 8, and $50,000 on weeks 9 and 10. If this is what the stars are making, for sure they don't regret joining the show. Leaving the show early does not hurt either.
Do you think the salary of the "DWTS" pro dancers is not enough, so-so or too much? Sound off below.
