Robert Irwin’s Dancing With the Stars Victory: Did He Really Earn the Prize Money?
Fan favorites Robert Irwin and Witney Carson clinched the Dancing With the Stars Season 34 mirrorball trophy, capping ten weeks of spills, thrills, and standout routines in a glitter-charged finale.
Dancing With the Stars just wrapped Season 34, and the mirrorball went to Robert Irwin and Witney Carson. Not exactly shocking if you watched the season play out, but there is plenty to unpack here, from the finale scoring quirks to how the money actually works on this show.
How the finale shook out
Ten weeks, a few slips, some very dramatic rebounds, and five couples made it to the last dance. After a three-hour finale where each pair performed three routines, here is where everyone landed:
- Winners: Robert Irwin & Witney Carson
- Runners-up: Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy
- Third place: Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa
- Fourth place: Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach
- Fifth place: Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten
Scores vs. votes (and why the result surprised some people)
Each finalist danced three times. Earle and Chmerkovskiy pulled off a perfect judges sweep with 30s across the board (Samba, cha-cha-cha, and freestyle). Irwin and Carson danced Quickstep, cha-cha-cha, and freestyle; they notched two perfect 30s and a 29. So yes, the runners-up had the cleaner scores on paper. The difference came down to audience voting, which tipped the trophy to Team Irwin/Carson.
Worth noting: Irwin was not at 100 percent going into the show. Carson shared on TikTok that his ribs were giving him grief heading into the finale. He still powered through three high-energy routines.
The money question (because everybody asks)
Despite whatever you have heard, there is no extra cash prize for hoisting the mirrorball. According to reporting from Marca, the show pays celebrities a base $125,000 to sign on, which covers pre-season rehearsals and the first two weeks. After that, the checks scale up the longer you survive: $10,000 for weeks 3 and 4; $15,000 for week 5; $20,000 for weeks 6 and 7; $30,000 for weeks 8 and 9; and up to $50,000 for the semifinals and finals. Make it all the way through all 11 weeks and a contestant can walk with around $360,000. That applies to all finalists, winners included.
"No. Whoever makes it to the finale, you all get paid up until then. And you do get a nice bonus. You're guaranteed for a certain number of weeks. I think there are different contracts, so I can't speak for everybody. But, if you make it all the way to the end, you're getting paid the whole season, which is amazing."
That quote from pro Jenna Johnson-Chmerkovskiy lines up with the reporting: there is a bonus structure, but not a special winner-only payday. One of those TV realities that looks glamorous but pays out in longevity, not trophies.
The fan chatter
Irwin has basically lived in the fan-favorite lane since early in the season when he and Carson tore into Steppenwolf's 'Born to Be Wild' and he ripped off his shirt. The finale reactions reflected that energy: lots of 'Crikey!' posts, lots of happy tears, lots of people saying the win felt earned.
There was pushback, too. A chunk of viewers argued Alix Earle should have won, pointing to her perfect finale scores. Others claimed Irwin rode a huge fan base (and, yes, thirst tweets) to the finish. If you have watched this show for more than 10 minutes, none of that discourse will shock you.
Some fun context
Irwin now becomes the second member of his family to win the series. His sister Bindi won Season 21 with Derek Hough. And for Witney Carson, this is mirrorball number two; she previously won back in Season 19 with Alfonso Ribeiro.
What Irwin says is next
Fresh off the confetti, Irwin told E! News he will hit New York, then fly to South Africa to film another show, and finally head home. Carson is not exactly disappearing either. Irwin said she is heading to Australia to join him for a bit, and she joked, 'You're not getting rid of me that easy.' As for the journey, Irwin framed the season as a chance to build his own legacy with Carson, leaning into positivity, vulnerability, passion, and fun.
Bottom line: a tight finale, some eyebrow-raising score dynamics, a clear favorite winning anyway, and a payout system that rewards staying power more than anything else. Did the right couple win? Tell me what you think.