Ribeiro Earns More Than Hough as Dancing Co-Host
Reported per-season fees show a $500,000 gap between the two Dancing with the Stars co-hosts.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Dance
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Alfonso Ribeiro reportedly earns $1.75 million per season co-hosting Dancing with the Stars, while Julianne Hough reportedly earns $1.25 million, according to a report by The US Sun. The figures are reported, not confirmed by the show or its producers.
Why it matters
The reported gap highlights how pay for Dancing with the Stars hosts and celebrity contestants is structured, including base participation fees and weekly bonuses. For U.S. viewers and fans of reality competition programming, the figures offer a rare look at the financial side of a long-running network show.
The reported figures come from a single tabloid report citing undisclosed sourcing, with per-season co-host fees of $1.75 million for Ribeiro and $1.25 million for Hough. Neither the network nor the co-hosts have publicly confirmed the amounts, and the report does not explain the basis for the figures.
The players
Alfonso Ribeiro
Ribeiro is an actor and dancer best known for portraying Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and he has hosted Dancing with the Stars since 2022.
Julianne Hough
Hough is a professional dancer and former television judge who won Dancing with the Stars twice and has appeared in several films.
The details
According to The US Sun, Ribeiro has co-hosted the series since 2022 and won Season 19, while Hough is a two-time champion and former judge. The report also states that celebrity contestants receive about $125,000 for participating, with weekly bonuses of $10,000 to $50,000 and finalist pay between $295,000 and $360,000.
Timeline
2022: Alfonso Ribeiro begins co-hosting Dancing with the Stars.
Season 19: Ribeiro wins the competition.
November 10, 2026: The US Sun publishes the report on co-host pay.
Industry Dynamics
Dancing with the Stars has run as one of ABC's longest-lasting reality competitions, and its pay structure for hosts and celebrity contestants reflects how network reality programs compensate talent for multi-week seasons. The reported figures show how base fees and per-week incentives combine in that model.
The reported pay structure does not change how viewers watch the show, which airs on ABC and streams through its usual platforms. Viewers can still follow the current season on the network schedule regardless of the reported fee figures.
The takeaway
Reported pay figures can illustrate how reality competition shows distribute compensation between hosts and contestants, though unconfirmed tabloid numbers should be read with caution. Readers interested in the show's structure can compare these claims with official announcements from the network.
Further reading
Explore more dance coverage for context on the show's competition format and its performers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tab.
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