Watch: Robert Irwin Reveals What's Next After Winning 'Dancing With the Stars' (Exclusive)Robert Irwin wants to keep the Mirrorball in the family. After the Australian wildlife conservationist won season 34 of Dancing With the Stars alongside professional partner Witney Carson exactly ten years after sister Bindi Irwin took home the trophy, he shared his thoughts on other family members like mom Terri Irwin possibly waltzing into the ballroom next. "More of the Irwin-Carson family members have got to keep dancing," Robert joked to E! News' Will Marfuggi after the Nov. 26 finale, to which Witney added, "I told Terri, she needs to." But amid his major win, Robert could only focus on how excited he was to achieve the same milestone he saw his sister-who was in the audience for his big moment-reach back in 2015, emphasizing he was "overwhelmed and just grateful." "The biggest word is just grateful," Robert shared. "I am here to represent my charity Wildlife Warriors, my work at Australia Zoo, my passion for conservation, but now I've been able to write my own legacy with Witney as we tell stories of positivity and vulnerability and passion and fun."readDancing With the Stars Secrets Revealed-From Eye-Popping Paychecks to Robert Irwin's Historic WinAnd while the 21-year-old was floored to receive the highest honor of the ABC reality dance competition, he took a moment to shine a much-deserved light on his partner. "There is no one who deserves it more than Witney," Robert continued. "She gives everything. She balances so much. She is an absolute inspiration to me and to so many people." Winning was certainly the cherry on top for Robert, but the son of Terri and the late Steve Irwin already took away so much from the experience before receiving the show's crown. "I'm gonna miss this," Robert wrote in a Nov. 24 Instagram post, just before the finale. "Thanks for the best memories, Witney. I will cherish this experience forever. One last night to dance - see you tomorrow, America."Disney/Eric McCandlessMeanwhile, Witney had shared that Robert was giving it his all until the very last dance. As she emphasized in a Nov. 24 TikTok, "We're gonna have absolutely no regrets by the end of this." For a deeper look Dancing With the Stars beyond the ballroom, keep reading for the show's biggest secrets... ABC/Paula LoboHow Much Do the Celebrities Get Paid to Be on Dancing With the Stars?Citing multiple sources, Variety reported in 2019 that Dancing With the Stars contestants make $125,000 for the rehearsal period and first two weeks of the show. If they progress beyond that point, the outlet continued, they earn more money each week. At the time, sources told the publication stars could earn a maximum of $295,000. However, Bobby Bones said he made more than this when he won season 27 with Sharna Burgess in 2018. "That show pays OK," the radio personality said on a Sept. 2025 episode of Jason Tartick's podcast Trading Secrets. "Like, first episode, no money. Second episode, $10,000. I think it's like, $10,000, $10,000, $20,000, $20,000. It ends up being $50,000 an episode if you last." Also receiving a base salary of around $110,000, Bones continued, "I ended up making close to $400,000 from that show." ABC has not publicly confirmed any of these figures.
Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty ImagesWhat Do the Pros Get Paid on Dancing With the Stars?Similarly, little has been shared publicly about how much the pros get paid. But as with the contestants, it seems like the longer they're on the show, the more money they can make. But even if a pro is eliminated in the first round, they're not leaving the ballroom empty-handed. "You're guaranteed until a certain amount of weeks," Jenna Johnson said on a June 2025 episode of Kelly Stafford and Hank Winchester's podcast The Morning After. "I think there's different contracts though. I can't speak for everybody."Disney/Eric McCandlessDo Pros Get Paid More If They Win Dancing With the Stars?Apparently not. While Johnson-who won season 26 with Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon, as well as season 33 with The Bachelor's Joey Graziadei-says the pros don't get a larger paycheck if they take home what is now called the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, she noted there's still an incentive to make it to the finale (besides bragging rights, of course). "If you make it all the way to the end, you're getting paid the whole season, which is amazing, and you get a bonus on top of that for making it to the finale," she explained on The Morning After. "If you win, it's not like you win a $1 million and split it with your partner. You're just getting a cute trophy together."Instagram / Dancing With the StarsDo the Troupe Members Get Paid as Much as the Pros on Dancing With the Stars?That doesn't appear to be the case. On a 2022 episode of Trading Secrets, Lindsay Arnold recalled how her salary was cut "more than in half" when she was demoted from pro to troupe member.
Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty ImagesHow Are