Bruno Tonioli’s Net Worth, Career Highlights, and Insights from Dancing with the Stars

Since its debut in 2005, ABC’s immensely popular reality series, Dancing with the Stars, has captivated audiences. This acclaimed competition program sees celebrities teaming up with professional dancers to vie for the coveted Mirrorball trophy. Throughout its run, the show has welcomed various well-known figures, including notable names from the realms of reality television and sports.

Now, nearly twenty years after its initial broadcast, the show is in the midst of its 33rd season. Hosting duties are undertaken by Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro, while three esteemed choreographers serve as judges: Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Derek Hough.

Among the seasoned judges, Bruno Tonioli has been with Dancing with the Stars since its first season in 2005. A highly regarded dancer and choreographer, Bruno has collaborated with some of the biggest icons in entertainment, including Michael Jackson, Elton John, and Freddie Mercury.

Bruno has generated significant wealth through his choreography for music videos, films, and live performances. His net worth is estimated to be around $9 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He is said to command a fee of $30,000 per episode of Dancing with the Stars.

Bruno Tonioli: Gaining Prominence through Strictly Come Dancing

Born on November 25, 1955, Bruno first discovered dance in 1972 after watching the musical Cabaret multiple times. This experience ignited his passion for dance, despite his parents’ lack of support for his aspirations. At the age of 18, feeling constrained by their disapproval, he left Italy to chase his dreams, spending two years with La Grande Eugene dance company in Paris before relocating to London.

Initially aspiring to compete in Eurovision with the dance group Duke and the Aces, Bruno’s team was ultimately not selected. This led him to pivot his focus towards choreography, creating routines for stage shows, music videos, and tours with renowned artists like Elton John, Freddie Mercury, Sting, Tina Turner, Boy George, Duran Duran, and the Rolling Stones.

In 1983, he appeared in Elton John’s music video for “I’m Still Standing”and Bonnie Tyler’s “Take Me Back.”His film credits include roles in Absolute Beginners, What a Girl Wants, and Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. Additionally, he served as the choreographer for Minnie Driver in the 2004 film Ella Enchanted.

Bruno has also worked on several television series, such as Oscar, The Bill, Fuller House, and Horrible Histories. His breakthrough came in 2004 when he became a judge on the British dance competition Strictly Come Dancing. After many successful years, he departed from the show in 2020. In 2012, he published his memoir titled Bruno Tonioli: My Story.

During his tenure on Strictly Come Dancing, he reportedly earned around $250,000 per season. Following his entrance onto Dancing with the Stars in 2005, his pay rose to $30,000 per episode, accumulating approximately $1 million per season. In 2023, he took over David Walliams’ spot as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, earning around $850,000 per season.

As a notable figure in the dance community, Bruno co-created the BBC series DanceX in 2007 and the U.S. adaptation Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann in 2008. He has made numerous appearances on various TV shows, including The Weakest Link, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Chelsea Lately, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, The Arsenio Hall Show, and Live with Kelly and Ryan.

In recognition of his contributions to reality television, Bruno received Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program in 2006 and 2007 for Dancing with the Stars, along with a Teen Choice Awards nomination in 2007 for Choice TV: Personality. His impressive 2,359-square-foot residence in West Hollywood, California, is valued at approximately $2.825 million.

Fans can catch Bruno Tonioli on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, airing every Tuesday at 8 PM ET exclusively on ABC.

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