Julianne Hough Salary: What DWTS Hosts Reportedly Earn
Reports say Dancing with the Stars co-host Alfonso Ribeiro earns $500,000 more per season than Julianne Hough. The figures come from a source cited by The Sun and have not been officially confirmed.
Julianne Hough's pay as a co-host of Dancing with the Stars is in the spotlight after reports claimed her on-air partner earns considerably more. According to figures cited by The Sun, Alfonso Ribeiro makes $1.75 million per season for hosting the ABC series, while Hough makes $1.25 million. The difference of $500,000 has drawn attention online as searches for Hough's name climb. The figures have not been officially confirmed by the show, ABC or the hosts.
Why the gap, according to the report
The report attributes the difference mainly to hosting seniority. A source told The Sun that Ribeiro has hosted since 2022 and brings his own history with the show, having won Season 19 with partner Witney Carson in 2014. "His experience in Hollywood, his admiration from viewers and his established relationship with the franchise support the substantial hosting fee," the source said.
The source described Hough's role differently. She is a two-time Dancing with the Stars champion and a former judge, and she has a substantial list of Hollywood credits. "But Alfonso is considered the 'main host' so he gets more than Julianne," the source said.
Their roles on the show
Ribeiro, who starred on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has a long record as a television host. He has fronted game shows, including Catch 21, which earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination, and he took over America's Funniest Home Videos from Tom Bergeron in 2015. He joined Dancing with the Stars in season 31, in 2022, alongside Tyra Banks, who had hosted for two seasons on her own.
When Banks left after the following season, Hough was brought in as her replacement. She had previously competed as a professional dancer on the show from season 4 through season 8, between 2007 and 2009. She later returned as a guest judge and became a permanent judge for several seasons.
Pressure on production budgets
Reports from In Touch Weekly, cited by Yahoo, said ABC executives are under pressure to reward the show's longtime stars with larger pay increases, particularly as the series continues to draw strong ratings and headlines. A source quoted in that report described the production as demanding, with long hours for contestants, judges, producers and hosts. The same source said it is difficult to predict which roles Disney will treat as essential.
A comparison published by Cosmopolitan cited Celebrity Net Worth as putting Tom Bergeron, the show's earlier host, at about $150,000 per episode, roughly $1.8 million per season. That figure is an estimate from a third-party site and has not been verified by the show.
What we know so far
The salary figures for both hosts rest on an unnamed source and remain unconfirmed. Dancing with the Stars does not typically disclose compensation for its cast and hosts. Any official statement from ABC, Disney or the hosts would be needed to verify the numbers.
Hough and Ribeiro continue as co-hosts, and the show's next season has not been the subject of an official announcement in the reports reviewed.
Key points:
- Reported pay: Ribeiro $1.75 million per season; Hough $1.25 million per season.
- The difference is attributed to Ribeiro's role as main host and his longer tenure in the job.
- Neither the show nor the hosts have confirmed the figures.
