What Does ‘Dancing With The Stars’ 2018 Cast And Season 27 Winner Get Paid?

It’s that time of year again when Hollywood stars and dance professionals pair up to find out who has the best ballroom skills. ABC is bringing back its hit competition series “Dancing With the Stars” for Season 27 on Monday. Ultimately, only one team will walk away with the coveted Mirror Ball trophy, and surprisingly, not much more money than the other 2018 finalists.

Here’s what we know about what this season’s cast of “Dancing With the Stars” are being paid.

There has yet to be a contract leak for this season of “DWTS” as there have been in past years. However, that doesn’t mean viewers are in the dark as to what the stars are being paid. It has been reported in past seasons that each celebrity contestant receives $125,000 for appearing in the first two episodes. Even the first eliminated contestant gets the full six-figure sign-on bonus, according to Gawker.

Stars who make it past the first few episodes get paid on a sliding scale. The number rises every few episodes with the ultimate payday coming after the finale. Those who appear in the final two episodes get $50,000 and the three stars who make it to the end ultimately walk away with about $345,000 each.

Unfortunately for the sole winner, he/she can’t may not even be able to count their Mirror Ball trophy as part of their monetary winnings. While the trophy is highly coveted among each season’s contestants, “DWTS” production designer James Yarnell told People in 2017 that the trophies are typically painted gold and adorned with crystals and are far from “high-end.”

“…No matter how much we put into the trophy, how much we spend, it always has a $10 Mirror Ball on top,” he said.

If Season 27 contestant John Schneider ends up winning big, his prize money may be at risk. TMZ reports his estranged wife, Elvira Schneider, has filed legal documents ordering “The Dukes of Hazzard” alum pay for her mounting divorce attorney fees. Elvira is specifically seeking $348,999.50.

The “DWTS” professional dancers are also paid, though it’s unclear how much ABC gives them each season. According to a February report from People, however, it likely isn’t a small sum.

“Having a kid is not cheap and doing the show gives them a lot more financial freedom,” a source told the magazine after couple Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd returned to the series for Season 25 after welcoming their first child.

“Dancing With the Stars” Season 27 premieres Monday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.