How much do the Dancing With the Stars judges get paid every season to critique and catch heat? It is not an easy job, especially since they are constantly under a microscope from viewers. The amount may shock DWTS fans. Keep reading for all of the details.
Being A DWTS Judge Is Not Easy
After what has gone down over the last few weeks on Season 35 of DWTS, it is clear that being on the show is not easy. From the pros to the celebrities to the judges to the hosts, everyone is being bullied. They say and wear the wrong things, immediately becoming the target of cyberbullying. It is disgusting and sad, but the Internet has proven to be a vicious forum. Val Chmerkovskiy made an inappropriate comment toward judge Carrie Ann Inaba on TikTok. It led to a week-long suspension. Fans were torn because Carrie Ann can be harsh, but they knew there were consequences for actions.
After all of this drama, one would wonder if it is worth it. Financially, it appears that it is. Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli have been with the reality dancing competition since its inception, for over two decades. Therefore, they allegedly make the most out of the three judges on the panel. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Bruno makes $30K per episode, bringing his salary to $360K for 12 episodes. That is not too shabby, given that it is a yearly guarantee.
However, the late Len Goodman, who exited DWTS at the end of Season 31, allegedly made $1.2 million per season. It is unclear how much Carrie Ann Inaba makes, but her net worth is around $7 million. As for Derek Hough, he is said to make less than Carrie Ann and Bruno, given that he is a new judge. Yet, he has his own dancing tour, which helps with his net worth, which is around $8 million.
Should They Make More?
The big question is whether the DWTS judges should make more. They sit, enjoy the show, critique, and occasionally pop in for rehearsals. However, as aforementioned, there is a new level of hate that they are receiving that has become unacceptable. It is something that money cannot buy:
- I’m so sick of #DWTS & them judges!
- The most annoying thing about this season is Derek’s comments/scores, Val C, Jenna C, Connor fans, the judges are always harder on the women, the way all of us are sometimes toxic (old/new fans) regardless of who we’re rooting for.
- Derek sucks as a judge sorry not sorry and I would welcome a complete change of the judges next season
Do you think that these judges are paid fairly or should be paid more for their time on DWTS? Finally, have you stopped watching because of the judges? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Amanda has been a professional freelance writer for over a decade, holding both a BA and an MA. Her passions include animals, iced coffee, gnomes, summer, music, and ‘Vanderpump Rules’.