Do the Dancing with the Stars contestants get paid?

Dancing with the Stars is no easy gig, and it doesn’t take a panel of expert judges to see that much.

Week to week, all contestants appear to be sincerely dancing their butts off, working hard for their scores, applauses, and causes. It’s also no secret that there’s an easy as 1, 2, 3 formula for launching and relaunching entertainers’ careers after appearing on the series over the years.

But do they also work hard for the money?

As you’ve probably guessed by now, this coveted celebrity spot on the insanely popular televised dance floor isn’t exactly a volunteer position. Turns out, the ABC competition show contestants are given much more than dance lessons and boatloads of free press to tango.

How much are Dancing With the Stars contestants paid?

Unsurprisingly, the whirling and twirling contestants are compensated for all of their fancy foot work. According to Variety, all competing celebs are paid for their time going in, way before ever gracing the studio audience and stage with their moves.

Reportedly, each contestant is cut a shiny, new $125,000 check for the show’s rehearsal period and their first two weeks, no matter what what happens next. Not too shabby a payday for the rookies with two left feet, right?

Various sources for the publication also claim that celebrity contestants making it to the third round or beyond start earning additional fees every week. Reportedly, the max salary contestants can earn is somewhere around $295,000 these days.

Once upon a time, however, certain celebrities were reportedly able to bring in bigger bucks in the ballroom, maxing out well over $300,000 for their choreographed stint on the series.

So riddle me this: What happens to those one-of-a-kind costumes when it’s all danced and done? On top of six figures, now I’m wondering if the stars get to keep those hot little numbers, too. Because let’s be honest, some of those elaborate costumes are just as famous as the Dancing with the Stars contestants themselves.