What Does ‘Dancing With The Stars’ 2017 Cast And Winner Get Paid?
Monday night will see 13 celebrities and their professional dance partners grace the stage of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” When Season 25 comes to an end, only one star will be crowned the winner and secure the Mirror Ball Trophy. They will, of course, also walk away with a hefty paycheck.
While the money each year’s winner secures is very real, there have long been questions about what each year’s first-place star actually gets and whether or not the series is rigged. Before the 2017 installment premieres Monday, get the scoop on what really goes down on the competition show.
How Much Money Does The Cast Make?
That answer isn’t simple. First off, every participant on every season of “Dancing With the Stars” is paid for joining the cast. It has long been reported that each cast member is given $125,000 just for signing up. Those who manage to stick around for more than the first two episodes get a bigger payday.
It was uncovered by Gawker, and has since been reported by numerous outlets, that each season’s celebrity stars are paid on a sliding scale. Those who make it to episodes 3 and 4 earn an additional $10K on top of their signing bonus. From there, the price is raised to $20K, and $30K for starring on subsequent installments. Those who make it ot the final two episodes each season are given $50K.
What Do The Pros Get Paid?
While it isn’t clear how much the professional dancers get paid each season, and whether or not their pay is equal, it is known that their paychecks are hefty. After it was revealed in February that professionals Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd would be returning, an insider said the “DWTS” pay was too good for the couple to pass up.
“Having a kid is not cheap and doing the show gives them a lot more financial freedom,” a source told People Magazine at the time. “Maks had concerns that being a dad would consume his whole life but since [son] Shai arrived, he and Peta both realized they can handle the show and being parents too.”
The following month Gossip Cop reported that contracts for the show’s dancing professionals are “renegotiate each season” and that “pay [is] increased based on lonegivity and other factors.”
Who Does The Winner Make?
The winner of “Dancing With the Stars,” as viewers are well aware, are gifted the Mirror Ball Trophy during the finale. What they are not gifted, however, is an additional cash prize. The final three contestants each season are given the same amount for making it to the final two episodes. Those lucky enough to get to finale night get a total of $345,000. And no, the winner does not get an additional bonus, unless you count their extended 15 minutes of fame.
Is The Show Rigged?
When fan-favorite cast members get voted off, it isn’t uncommon for supporters to claim the series and its live result shows are rigged. But is the show really staged? The most recent controversy occurred in April when Maksim and his partner, former professional dancer and “Glee” alum Heather Morris, were eliminated.
In response to the backlash, Peta told Fox News that she doesn’t believe in the rigged rumors. “I don’t think the show is rigged. I mean, we’ve gone over and over [it], like people ask us that all the time,” she said. “Once you’re out, you’re out.”
Catch the “Dancing With the Stars” Season 25 premiere Monday at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.