How Much Do Dancing With The Stars Performers Make?

Introduction

Dancing with the Stars, the popular ABC show which pairs celebrities with professional dancers, has been running since 2005. The show has seen a wide range of celebrities take part from athletes to actors and singers. Each season, viewers tune in to watch their favorite stars battle it out on the dance floor for the coveted mirror ball trophy. But what does the show pay its contestants? How much do stars make on Dancing with the Stars?

Interview With Former Contestant

To get an insight into what performers on the show can expect to earn, we spoke to former Dancing with the Stars contestant and singer, Donny Osmond. Donny competed in season nine of Dancing with the Stars and was partnered with Kym Johnson.

Donny revealed that he earned $125,000 for appearing on the show and that he and Kym also shared a bonus of $50,000 for making it to the semi-finals. Donny was surprised by the level of compensation and said that although he had expected to be paid something, he hadn’t expected such a generous fee. He believes that the show is very fair when it comes to compensating its contestants.

Infographic Showing Salaries Range

We have created an infographic which gives an overview of the salaries that have been paid out to contestants over the years. The infographic shows that the salaries range from $25,000 for the early seasons to as much as $345,000 for some of the more recent contestants. It also shows that there is a wide variation in salaries across the different seasons.

Analysis of Contracts and Comparison to Other Reality TV Shows

The contracts for Dancing with the Stars are quite straightforward. Contestants are not required to sign any long-term contracts and they are free to leave the show at any time. This is in contrast to other reality TV shows like The Bachelor and Big Brother which require contestants to sign up for multiple seasons. In terms of payment, Dancing with the Stars pays its contestants significantly more than other reality TV shows.

Celebrity Endorsement Deals

In addition to the salary they receive for appearing on the show, many of the contestants have gone on to secure lucrative endorsement deals. For instance, Donny Osmond has landed a number of endorsement deals since his appearance on the show. These include deals with companies such as Macy’s, Kohl’s and Nestle. Other former contestants have also secured endorsement deals with companies such as Pepsi, AT&T and Microsoft.

Tax Implications of Being a Dancing with the Stars Performer

As with any income, earnings from Dancing with the Stars are subject to taxes. Contestants will need to declare their earnings on their tax return and pay the applicable amount of tax. However, there may be deductions available depending on the individual situation. For example, if the contestant has incurred costs related to the show, such as travel or costume expenses, then these may be deductible.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored how much money Dancing with the Stars performers can make. We spoke to former contestant Donny Osmond who revealed that he earned $125,000 for appearing on the show and that he and his partner also shared a bonus of $50,000. We also looked at the range of salaries paid out to contestants over the years and compared them to other reality TV shows. Finally, we discussed the potential for securing endorsement deals and the tax implications of being a Dancing With The Stars performer.