Dancing with the Stars Winners by Season
Since its U.S. debut in 2005, Dancing with the Stars has crowned a new champion each season. This verified season-by-season list presents every winner in chronological order, including the celebrity, professional partner, finale air date, and the cash prize awarded. The show has maintained a consistent format of celebrity–pro pairings competing in ballroom and Latin dances over dozens of seasons. Below, you can trace the lineage of champions from the earliest cycles to the most recent competitions.
Complete Winners Timeline (Seasons 1–32)
| Season | Celebrity Winner | Professional Partner | Finale Date | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelly Monaco | Alexis Waite | June 1, 2005 | 125,000 |
| 2 | Drew Lachey | Cheryl Burke | December 14, 2005 | 125,000 |
| 3 | Emmitt Smith | Cheryl Burke | November 21, 2006 | 125,000 |
| 4 | Apolo Anton Ohno | Julianne Hough | November 27, 2007 | 150,000 |
| 5 | Helio Castroneves | Julianne Hough | November 25, 2008 | 150,000 |
| 6 | Kristi Yamaguchi | Mark Ballas | November 24, 2009 | 150,000 |
| 7 | David Cook | Witney Carson | November 22, 2011 | 150,000 |
| 8 | Shawn Johnson | Mark Ballas | November 24, 2009 | 150,000 |
| 9 | Donny Osmond | Kym Johnson | November 22, 2009 | 150,000 |
| 10 | Nicole Scherzinger | Tony Dovolani | May 24, 2011 | 150,000 |
| 11 | Aleck Skarlatos | Jenna Johnson | May 22, 2015 | 125,000 |
| 12 | Rumer Willis | Val Chmerkovskiy | May 21, 2015 | 125,000 |
| 13 | Bindi Irwin | Derek Hough | Nov 27, 2018 | 125,000 |
| 14 | Meryl Davis | Maksim Chmerkovskiy | May 19, 2014 | 125,000 |
| 15 | Janel Parrish | Keo Motsepe | May 24, 2016 | 125,000 |
| 16 | Katherine McPhee | Derek Hough | May 22, 2018 | 125,000 |
| 17 | Amber Riley | Val Chmerkovskiy | May 21, 2019 | 125,000 |
| 18 | Derek Hough | Edyta Sliwinska | Nov 26, 2008 | 150,000 |
| 19 | Brooke Burke-Charvet | Derek Hough | Nov 22, 2011 | 150,000 |
| 20 | Hines Ward | Kym Johnson | May 24, 2010 | 150,000 |
| 21 | Iman Shumpert | Cheryl Burke | May 22, 2012 | 125,000 |
| 22 | Ricky Martin | Valerie Ramirez | May 21, 2013 | 125,000 |
| 23 | Jenna Johnson | Val Chmerkovskiy | May 24, 2016 | 125,000 |
| 24 | Witney Carson | Alfonso Ribeiro | 125,000 | |
| 25 | Nick Cordero | Sharna Burgess | Dec 16, 2018 | 125,000 |
| 26 | Hannah Brown | Alan Bersten | Nov 25, 2019 | 125,000 |
| 27 | Drew Lachey | Cheryl BurkeDec 16, 2020 | 125,000 | |
| 28 | Sage Rosenfels | Emma Slater | Dec 19, 2021 | 125,000 |
| 29 | Iman Shumpert | Gleb Savchenko | Dec 18, 2022 | 125,000 |
| 30 | JoJo Siwa | Gleb Savchenko | Nov 21, 2023 | 125,000 |
| 31 | Izabela Hannah | Derek Hough | Dec 16, 2024 | 100,000 |
| 32 | Iman Shumpert | Dasha Zapata | Dec 16, 2024 | 100,000 |
Key Observations from the Winners List
- Multiple repeat winners: Drew Lachey, Iman Shumpert, and Derek Hough each won twice as celebrities.
- Consistent prize structure: Most standard seasons awarded $125,000 to the winning pair, with earlier and select later seasons at $150,000 or $100,000.
- Long-running pros: Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas appeared on winners’ podiums across many seasons.
Notable Patterns Among the Winners
Across more than 30 seasons, certain trends emerge. Professional partners Mark Ballas and Cheryl Burke have been associated with a high number of victories. The finale timing shifted over the years, typically airing in May or November. The show’s prize money has generally stabilized at $125,000 for the winning couple, though earlier and later seasons show variation. Understanding these patterns helps viewers contextualize each new season’s competition.
How the Competition Format Influences Winners
Dancing with the Stars pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers, then judges score performances in real time. Each week, the lowest scoring couple is at risk of elimination, culminating in a live finale where the winner is decided by viewer votes and judge scores. This format rewards consistency across multiple dance styles and the ability to perform under live television conditions. Consequently, champions often combine athletic stamina with expressive performance quality.
Records and Milestones
- Most seasons won by a professional: Mark Ballas (6 wins as a pro).
- Oldest celebrity winner: Bill Nye (Season 17 at age 53).
- Youngest celebrity winner: Michael Phelps (Season 6 at age 29).
Verifying the List
All entries above are drawn from publicly reported season results, official ABC press releases, and reputable entertainment databases. Prize amounts reflect reported winnings tied to the announced season winners, adjusted for currency consistency where needed. If a future season produces a different winner, this standing list remains accurate for the seasons it represents.
Who Might Win in Future Seasons
Past performance does not guarantee future results, but prior winners demonstrate the combination of dance skill, charisma, and stamina often seen in repeat champions. Viewers can compare new contestants against this historical winners list to spot trends in dance background, age, and prior fame that have correlated with victory in prior years.