Fan favorite Robert Irwin is making his mark on “Dancing With the Stars” and cashing in a hefty paycheck along the way. The 21-year-old TV personality reportedly earns a base salary of $125,000 (about A$188,000) for his first two weeks on the ABC competition, according to Variety.
Reports suggest his total earnings could rise to between $295,000 (A$447,000) and $400,000 (A$606,000), depending on how long he remains in the competition.
While the exact figure has not been confirmed, the show’s pay structure is well known to increase with each week contestants stay in the ballroom.
His sister Bindi Irwin knows that path well — she won the Mirrorball Trophy back in 2015.
Carrying on Steve Irwin’s Legacy
Irwin’s journey comes with extra poignancy given the legacy of his father, the late conservationist Steve Irwin. Steve, who died in 2006 after being stung by a stingray in the Great Barrier Reef, reinvested a significant portion of his fortune in wildlife conservation.
(Photo by Australia Zoo via Getty Images)His wife, Terri, later revealed that he had left the family with little financial security, apart from a $200,000 life insurance policy, as per a report in The New York Post.
Despite those early struggles, both Robert and Bindi have followed in their father’s footsteps as wildlife warriors and beloved public figures. “When I see a picture of my dad or footage, I actually love having his presence around,” Robert reflected on a podcast last year.
(Photo by Dave Hunt/Pool/Getty Images)“Living in Australia Zoo, he’s everywhere — the images and pictures, the videos and the sound, he’s still a part of every day for me.”
Robert Emerges as a ‘DWTS’ Fan Favorite
Irwin’s appeal on DWTS goes beyond his paycheck. During Week 1, he and partner Witney Carson charmed audiences with a high-energy jive that doubled as a nod to his family’s outdoorsman heritage. In Week 2, the duo performed a tango to Junior Senior’s 2002 hit “Move Your Feet,” earning 22/30 from the judges and tying for the night’s top score.
Off-screen, fans quickly embraced him online for his wholesome charm and striking resemblance to his father. “Give Robert Irwin the Mirrorball. I’ve seen enough,” one fan wrote on X. Another declared: “WE MUST PROTECT ROBERT IRWIN omg.”
Life, Love & What Comes Next
With his career on the rise, Irwin admits he’s still searching for love off the dance floor. Speaking to E! News after a recent performance, he shared that his top priority is finding someone with “genuine kindness.”
“My life is a whirlwind, it’s an adventure,” he said. “I would love to be able to share that with someone and to share those little moments. I have a lot of great role models in the love department and a lot of people I look up to and go, ‘Wow, couples goals.’ So I want to find that.”
For now, though, Irwin is focused on the Mirrorball and on proving that he’s more than just a legacy name in the ballroom.
