Dancing with the Stars: Bruno Tonioli's net worth, career, and more explored

ABC's popular reality show Dancing with the Stars premiered in 2005. It is a renowned competition series where celebrities, paired with professional dancers, compete against one another for the Mirrorball trophy. Over the years, the show has featured multiple stars, including popular personalities from reality TV and sports.

Almost two decades since its premiere, the show is currently running its 33rd season. It is hosted by Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro, boasting three celebrated choreographers as its judges. They are Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Derek Hough.

Bruno Tonioli is one of the judges who joined DWTS as a judge in 2005 and has remained since. A respected dancer and choreographer, Bruno has worked with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, like Michael Jackson, Elton John, and Freddie Mercury.

The Dancing with the Stars judge amassed his wealth choreographing for music videos, films, shows, etc. Bruno has a net worth of $9 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He reportedly charges $30,000 per episode of Dancing with the Stars.

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Dancing with the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli gained national fame after his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing

Born on November 25, 1955, the Italian's first interaction with dance was in 1972, when he saw the musical Cabaret "eight times in a row." It was then that Bruno realized his passion for dance. However, his parents were not supportive of his interest. Frustrated by their disapproval, Bruno left Italy at 18 to pursue his dream. He spent two years with La Grande Eugene dance company in Paris before moving to London.

Bruno joined the dance group Duke and the Aces, hoping to enter Eurovision, however, his troupe was not chosen. Ever since then, Bruno shifted the focus of his career to choreography. He choreographed for stage shows, music videos, and tours for world-famous artists, including Elton John, Freddie Mercury, Sting, Tina Turner, Boy George, Duran Duran, and the Rolling Stones.

In 1983, the Dancing with the Stars judge starred in Elton John's music video for I'm Still Standing and Bonnie Tyler's Take Me Back. He appeared in films such as Absolute Beginners, What a Girl Wants, and Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. He also worked as Minnie Driver's choreographer for Ella Enchanted, released in 2004.

Besides cinema, Bruno worked on multiple television series, including Oscar, The Bill, Fuller House, and Horrible Histories. He shot to fame in 2004, after he became a judge on the British dance show Strictly Come Dancing. However, he quit the show in 2020 after spending years on the judging panel. In 2012, he published his memoir Bruno Tonioli: My Story.

His salary was reportedly around $250,000 per series, during his time on Strictly Come Dancing. After his appearance on Dancing with the Stars in 2005, his salary increased to $30,000 per episode, around $1 million per series. In 2023, Bruno replaced David Williams on the judges' panel of Britain's Got Talent. He reportedly pocketed $850,000 per series on BGT.

The Dancing with the Stars judge co-created the 2007 BBC series DanceX and the 2008 American version Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann. He appeared on numerous TV shows, including The Weakest Link, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Chelsea Lately, Jimmy Kimmy Live!, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, The Arsenio Hall Show, and Live with Kelly and Ryan.

In 2006 and 2007, Bruno earned Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program for Dancing with the Stars. He also earned a Teen Choice Awards nomination in 2007 for Choice TV: Personality. The star choreographer owns a $2.825 million home in West Hollywood, California, spanning 2,359 square foot space.

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Bruno Tonioli can be followed on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, airing every Tuesday, at 8 pm ET only on ABC.