So You Think You Can Dance Judges Salaries & Net Worths Are Too Surprising

Jojo Siwa

Net Worth: $20 million

Jojo Siwa’s net worth is $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. She rose to fame on Dance Moms and became viral on Youtube. In 2019,  she made an estimated $27 million in revenue from her sold out D.R.E.A.M Tour.

She talked about her early business strategy to Forbes, “Early on, Nickelodeon wanted to have a meeting, where they discussed big business, and they wanted to do it without me. My Mom and I said, ‘That’s not how it works. We’ve been in this together since day one.’ And in that meeting Pam, who is the head of consumer products, said, ‘Just so you know, if this t shirt doesn’t sell then it’s all over. That was why I didn’t want you here.’ Now, every time I see her I laugh and say, ‘How’d that t-shirt sell?’” 

Alison Holker

Net Worth: $6 million
Season: 18

Allison Holker’s net worth is worth $6 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. She competed in season 4 and is returning to season 18 as a judge.

Holder filed for control of half of their joint estate in February 2023 after her husband Stephen “tWitch” Boss died without a will. In court documents obtained by People, Holker filed a a California Spousal Property Petition in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County, which is standard procedure when spouses die without a will. According to People, though California law states that a surviving spouse is entitled to half of their deceased spouse’s joint estate once they’re dead, the living spouse still has to file the petition to prove they are actually the spouse of the person who died. Holker asked for “determination of property passing to the surviving spouse” as well as “confirmation of property belonging to the surviving spouse.” The court documents detailed property, including quasi-community property, that Holker asked the court to rule she will receive as tWitch’s surviving spouse. “This includes any interest in a trade or business name of any unincorporated business or an interest in any unincorporated business that the deceased partner was operating or managing at the time of death,” court documents state.

Holker did not request for administration over tWitch’s estate. In the court documents, Holker alsoreported that tWitch had a “nil” net worth and that he didn’t receive any property through a gift, joint tenancy, life insurance or other beneficiaries after they married on December 10, 2023. The court documents also confirmed that tWitch lived in California throughout his whole marriage to Holker and that they didn’t have any written agreements between them on how their properties would be divided if one of them died. Along with half of their joint estate, Holker also requested half of tWitch’s Stephen Boss Productions company and Goldman Sachs investment account, as well as his royalties from Cast and Crew Production Services; Disney Worldwide Services, Inc.; GEP Talent Services, LLC; and SAG/AFTRA, according to the court documents. 

Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Net Worth:
Season: 18

Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s net worth is estimated to be around $8 Million according to Celebrity Net Worth. Chmerkovskiy was a professional dancer on Dancing With The Stars from 2006 to 2017. He also appeared on season 2 of The Traitors.

Nigel Lythgoe

Net Worth: $150 million
Seasons: 1-17

Nigel Lythegoe has a net worth of $150 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. The choreographer left the show in the wake of sexual assault allegations, including one from Paula Abdul. “I have informed the producers of So You Think You Can Dance of my decision to step back from participating in this year’s series,” Lythgoe, 74, announced in a statement to Variety on Friday, January 5, 2024. “I did so with a heavy heart but entirely voluntarily because this great program has always been about dance and dancers, and that’s where its focus needs to remain. In the meantime, I am dedicating myself to clearing my name and restoring my reputation.”

Leah Remini

Net Worth: $25 million
Season: 17

Leah Remini’s net worth is estimated to be around $25 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. She defended her stance as a judge on Instagram after heavy criticism. “For the one guy who’s like…. ‘Why is Leah Remini Judging a dance show?’ Because I am! I love dancing, and I’ve been ballroom dancing. I’ve got my own dance studio, I’ve been taking ballroom, cha-cha, rumba, jive, I do it all,” she said. “But, who can judge a dance show? I’m having a great time, I’m not even there as a dancer, I’m there as somebody who just enjoys dancing.”

tWitch

Net Worth: $5 million
Season: 15 and 17

 tWitch’s net worth is $5 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Along with So You Think You Can Dance, tWitch was also known as a DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which he appeared on from 2013 to the talk show’s finale in 2022. In addition to his dance career, tWitch was also an actor, starring in movies like Blades of Glory, Hairspray, Stomp the Yard: Homecoming, Step Up 3D, Step Up Revolution, Step Up All In and Magic Mike XXL. The dancer died by suicide on December 13, 2022, and is survived by his wife Allison Holker and two children.

Matthew Morrison

Net Worth: $10 million
Season: 17

Matthew Morrison has a net worth of $10 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. He was fired from the dance competition after he inappropriately messaged a contestant on the show.

“It’s really unfortunate that I have to sit here and defend myself and my family against blatantly untrue statements made anonymously, but I have nothing to hide,” he said in an Instagram video.

“In the interest of transparency,” he also read the “one” message he sent to the dancer that he suggested was at the core of the scandal. (TMZ reported that they had verified the message.)

He continued, “we live in this world where gossip rules and people’s lives are being thrown around as clickbait,” adding, “I think this is much bigger than me and this story. Gossip is toxic, and it is destroying our society, and we need to do better.”

Dominic ‘D-Trix’ Sandoval

Net Worth:
Season: 16

Dominic ‘D-trix’ Sandoval’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. He was a part of America’s Best Dance Crew-winning group Quest Crew.

Laurieann Gibson

Net Worth: $7 million
Season: 16

Laurieann Gibson’s net worth is estimated to be around $7.5 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. She’s worked with artists such as Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé for their music videos and performances.

Jason Derulo

Net Worth: $16 million
Season: 12-13

Jason Derulo’s net worth is estimated to be around $16 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. The “Wiggle” singer was a judge on the show for two seasons.

Paula Abdul

Net Worth: $20 million
Season: 12-13

Paula Abdul’s net worth is estimated to be around $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The former American Idol judge expressed her excitement for judging at the time. “I have dedicated a large part of my career as a choreographer to discovering and mentoring some of the most iconic artists and performers from all over the world,” she said. “So You Think You Can Dance has a long-standing history of launching brilliant careers for young choreographers and dancers in the industry. It’s going to be a true honor and pleasure joining this panel with Jason and Nigel, and I’m looking forward to an exciting new season!”

Vanessa Hudgens

Net Worth: $18 million
Season: 14 and 15

Vanessa Hudgens has a net worth of $18 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The High School Musical alum was candid about her approach to judging. “I try to be as kind as I can, I don’t want to be mean…but I also try to be honest,” she shared with Fox. “If something doesn’t do it for me, or if I don’t connect to the dancer or their performance, I tell them. At the end of the day, it is a competition and you need someone to pick up the phone and vote for you. If I’m not connecting to you, there’s probably a chance that other people aren’t as well.”

Maddie Ziegler

Net Worth:
Season: 13

Maddie Ziegler’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. The Dance Moms alum was also a judge and mentor of SYTYCD: The Next Generation.

Mia Michaels

Net Worth: $1 million
Seasons: 7

Mia Michael’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million according to Idol Net Worth. She told People about her reasoning why she had left the show. “It’s been an amazing five-year journey and I am in a place where I have all these great opportunities that have been presented to me and I am ready to take on all these challenges. So when I was working on the show, I wasn’t able to really focus on anything else. Now I’m really focusing on these other projects that I can’t pass up. I think that’s pretty much the main reason why I left the show.

Adam Shankman

Net Worth: $7 Million
Seasons: 6-7

Adam Shankman’s net worth is estimated to be around $7 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. When he was announced as judge, he expressed his excitement:  “‘So You Think You Can Dance’ is one of the most important things to happen in the last decade for the art form. Choreography is how I found my way into this business, and I’m proud to be a part of the show. As a filmmaker, it’s an honor to be able to recognize choreographers and dancers, and to be able to bring all of this amazing work into America’s homes.”

Mary Murphy

Net Worth: $10 million
Seasons: 1-6, 8-11, 14-16

Mary Murphy’s net worth is estimated to be around $10 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. She’s been around the dance competition the most, right behind Nigel Lythegoe. “I’m very grateful and proud to have been part of such an extraordinary television show,” she said about her departure. “I’m sure there wasn’t a person watching that didn’t know I loved what I did.”