Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) may serve up glitz, glam, and the iconic mirrorball trophy, but what’s really happening behind the scenes when it comes to payouts? Longtime DWTS professional dancer Jenna Johnson is finally shedding light on how the money actually works on the hit reality competition show. And spoiler alert, it’s not quite the million-dollar gig fans often imagine.
Jenna, who made her Dancing With the Stars debut back in 2012, is no stranger to the grind. She recently won Season 33 alongside The Bachelor’s Joey Graziadei and sat down with Kelly Stafford on The Morning After podcast to break down just how dancers and celebs get paid for all those perfectly choreographed paso dobles.
Let’s start with the big question: is there a cash prize for winning the competition? “No,” Jenna said bluntly. “Whoever makes it to the finale, you all get paid up until then. And you do get a nice bonus. But if you win, it’s not like you get a million dollars. You’re just getting a cute trophy together.” So while the mirrorball trophy may look fabulous on a shelf, it doesn’t come with a cash windfall.
Still, pros and celebs don’t go home empty-handed. Jenna explained that everyone is paid weekly, but contracts vary depending on experience and seniority. “There are different contracts,” she noted. According to multiple outlets, pro dancers reportedly earn between $1,200 and $1,600 per episode when they first start, with the chance to make up to $100,000 per season if they stick around long enough. Of course, ABC hasn’t confirmed those figures, but Jenna did suggest that those who last longer on the show benefit the most, financially speaking.
As for the celebrities, they’re reportedly paid significantly more from the get-go. Most start with a flat $125,000 paycheck that includes compensation for their intense rehearsal schedule before the season even starts airing. And the longer they stay in the competition, the more they earn. Finalists can rake in up to $50,000 in additional bonuses depending on how far they go.
The payout timeline also isn’t guaranteed. According to Jenna, those who are eliminated early still walk away with some pay, but “you’re guaranteed until a certain amount of weeks.” Meaning? Getting the boot too soon could seriously impact the total paycheck.
But beyond salaries, Jenna also addressed a fan-favorite myth: that professional dancers get to choose their celebrity partners. Not true, she said. “They do not tell us,” she confirmed. “They really want to keep it a secret until you meet them live.” So if you ever assumed those dream pairings were choreographed behind the scenes, think again. The dancers are just as surprised as viewers when the partnerships are revealed.
Jenna’s insight carries extra weight thanks to her deep experience on the show. Not only did she win Season 33, but she also previously snagged the Mirrorball Trophy in 2018 during the show’s athlete-themed season, partnering with Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon. She’s been a two-time runner-up as well, once with Catfish host Nev Schulman in 2020 and again in 2021 alongside pop sensation JoJo Siwa, making her one of the most consistent and accomplished dancers on the DWTS roster.
Outside of the ballroom, Jenna is also juggling motherhood. She shares a 2-year-old son, Rome, with fellow DWTS pro Val Chmerkovskiy. And while balancing the demands of a hit TV show and parenting isn’t easy, Jenna manages to stay grounded, and totally real about what this gig actually looks like beyond the sequins and spray tans.
Her candid comments offer fans a rare peek behind the curtain. For a show that puts so much emphasis on glamour and spectacle, it’s refreshing to hear someone from the inside explain the realities of DWTS salaries, contracts, and how much hustle it really takes to reach the finale.
So the next time you see those pros waltzing across the ballroom floor or celebs sweating it out in rehearsal montages, just know, it’s not all glitter and glory. There’s a lot of hard work (and a modest paycheck) driving those performances.
