Maksim Chmerkovskiy holds an estimated net worth of $8 million. Most people recognize him as the fierce, towering ballroom professional from ABC's hit television phenomenon Dancing with the Stars. Yet his wealth extends far beyond weekly television salaries. Over two decades, he built a multi-faceted career spanning competitive dance titles, national live tours, Broadway stages, and a lucrative co-owned chain of dance studios.
Understanding how he accumulated this fortune requires looking past the glossy ballroom lights. His financial footprint is built on sharp entrepreneurial moves, strategic media appearances, and lifelong dedication to the craft of choreography.
Early Life and the Foundation of Hustle
Long before earning millions, Chmerkovskiy grew up in Odesa, Ukraine, where his family faced severe economic hardships. When he was a teenager, his parents immigrated to the United States, settling in Brooklyn, New York. Life in America started with financial struggle rather than luxury. At age fifteen, he worked various odd jobs, including performing as a dancer at a local restaurant to help his family make ends meet.
Dancing wasn't just an artistic outlet; it was a survival strategy and a clear path toward upward mobility. He poured his energy into the International Latin discipline. By his early twenties, intense training paid off. He achieved a ranking of second in the United States and seventh in the world among professional International Latin dance couples. This competitive dominance laid the technical groundwork for everything that followed. Related analysis on this matter has been provided by BBC.
Breaking Out on Dancing with the Stars
Television transformed Chmerkovskiy from a decorated competitor into a household name. He joined Dancing with the Stars during its second season in 2006, partnering with actress Tia Carrere. Over seventeen seasons on the program, he became famous for his dramatic choreography, unfiltered personality, and intense competitiveness.
While individual per-episode salaries for the professional dancers vary based on seniority and contract negotiations, veteran pros on the show typically pull in substantial paychecks during active seasons. Top-tier professionals can earn anywhere from tens of thousands to over one hundred thousand dollars per season, supplemented by bonuses for advancing deep into the competition.
Beyond base salaries, his tenure on the show unlocked high-paying endorsement deals, commercial opportunities, and nationwide visibility. Even after stepping away from regular competition on the show in 2018, his association with the franchise remains a foundational pillar of his brand value.
The Dance With Me Studio Empire
Smart celebrities know that television fame is fleeting, so they convert screen time into brick-and-mortar assets. Chmerkovskiy did exactly that by co-founding the Dance With Me studio chain alongside his brother Valentin Chmerkovskiy and fellow dancer Didi Corovic.
The franchise grew into multiple premier locations across the New York metropolitan area and other select regions. These studios cater to social dancers, wedding couples, and competitive students alike, offering high-end private lessons and group classes. Owning a stake in a thriving boutique fitness and dance enterprise provides a steady, recurring stream of business income that protects his wealth from the fluctuations of the entertainment industry.
Live Tours, Broadway, and International Media
Performance income didn't stop at television. Chmerkovskiy capitalized on his fanbase by taking his talents to the stage. He starred in Broadway productions like Burn the Floor, showcasing his theatrical capabilities to live theater audiences.
Partnering with his brother Valentin, he launched independent national tours, including the popular Maks & Val Live on Tour productions. These tours grossed impressive ticket sales across major cities, letting them capture a much larger percentage of revenue than standard television work permits.
He also expanded his footprint internationally. In 2011, he took on the leading role in the Ukrainian version of The Bachelor, a high-profile media gig that expanded his personal brand overseas and diversified his earnings into foreign markets.
Real Estate and Family Life
Managing wealth effectively requires smart asset allocation, and real estate forms a key component of the Chmerkovskiy household portfolio. Alongside his wife and fellow dance professional Peta Murgatroyd—whom he married in 2017—he maintains properties that reflect their established lifestyle.
The couple has split time between the New York area (primarily living in Fort Lee, New Jersey) and Los Angeles, balancing bicoastal career demands in television and business management. Real estate appreciation in these prime suburban and metropolitan markets has steadily reinforced their long-term net worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Maksim Chmerkovskiy's highest salary on Dancing with the Stars?
Exact individual contracts are private, but veteran professional dancers on the show who stay for multiple seasons and reach the finals generally earn substantial seasonal salaries, often supplemented by performance bonuses and tour participation.
Does Maksim still own Dance With Me studios?
Yes, he remains a co-founder and stakeholder in the Dance With Me brand, which operates several upscale dance centers offering instructional programs and social events.
Are Maks and Valentin Chmerkovskiy business partners?
They collaborate extensively. Beyond sharing the dance floor and growing up competing together, they have co-produced nationwide live tours and co-founded business ventures within the dance industry.
Is Maksim Chmerkovskiy still dancing professionally?
While he retired from regular seasonal competition as a pro on Dancing with the Stars, he continues to choreograph, perform in special dance productions, and engage in select television and live stage projects.
