Did Robert Irwin Win Dancing with the Stars? 2025 Winner Update

If you’ve watched a young wildlife host grow up on screen over the past decade, you probably saw his sister’s Mirrorball Trophy win before his, but on November 25, 2025, Robert Irwin did something no other male Irwin has done: he won Dancing with the Stars Season 34 with a perfect freestyle score and an apology for a controversial shirtless moment that sparked family conversation. Here’s how the ballroom champion balanced wildlife conservation with competitive dance.

Winner of Season 34: Robert Irwin and Witney Carson ·
Season finale date: November 25, 2025 ·
Finale freestyle song: Black and Gold by Sam Sparro and The Nights by Avicii ·
Previous Irwin DWTS winner: Bindi Irwin (Season 21, 2015) ·
Reported apology for spicy moment: Robert Irwin apologized to family after a risqué DWTS routine

Key facts about Robert Irwin’s DWTS journey:

Did Robert Irwin win Dancing with the Stars?

Yes — Robert Irwin and his professional partner Witney Carson won the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in the Season 34 finale of Dancing with the Stars, which aired on November 25, 2025, according to ABC News (the official broadcaster of the show).

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson crowned champions

• Irwin and Carson’s freestyle performance to “Black and Gold” by Sam Sparro and “The Nights” by Avicii earned a perfect 30 out of 30 from the judges (ABC News).
• Their quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet received a 29 out of 30 (ABC News), with Carrie Ann Inaba offering a minor critique (ABC News).
• Irwin is the first male Irwin to win DWTS, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Season 34 finale results

Irwin’s victory came one day short of a decade after his sister Bindi Irwin won Season 21 in 2015, as The Hollywood Reporter noted. After winning, Irwin said, “My sister said it best: Thank you for changing my life,” ABC News reported.

The implication: the Irwin family now holds two Mirrorball Trophies across two decades.

Did Robert Irwin apologize for a DWTS moment?

Yes — a controversy emerged when Witney Carson later revealed she had regrets about asking Irwin to perform shirtless in a salsa routine, and Irwin subsequently apologized to his family.

Robert Irwin’s apology to family after spicy routine

• Entertainment Weekly reported that Carson said she had “many moments of regret” about asking Irwin to go shirtless during a salsa performance (EW).
• Carson believed the shirtless moment may not have been the best decision because she needed Irwin focused on the goal of winning the Mirrorball Trophy, according to EW.
• Irwin reportedly apologized to his family after the performance, though full details of the family conversation remain private.

Details of the controversial performance

• EW reported the shirtless moment happened during a salsa performance in season 34 (confidence: medium).
• No lasting controversy affected Irwin’s winning trajectory — he advanced through all weeks to the finale.

The pattern: a minor misstep did not derail a winning season.

What was Robert Irwin’s score on Dancing with the Stars?

Irwin and Carson earned consistently high scores throughout Season 34, culminating in a perfect finale.

Scores from the finale week

Here is how Irwin and Carson performed in the finale:

Two dances, a combined 59/60: that’s the kind of consistency that wins Mirrorball Trophies.

Progressive scores throughout the season

• Premiere jive performance earned 8 points from Derek Hough and 7 from Bruno Tonioli, according to EW, tying Irwin and Carson with Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas at the top of the premiere leaderboard (EW).
• Irwin paid tribute to his father Steve Irwin and the family’s Crocodile Hunter legacy during the season 34 premiere jive, as EW reported.

The implication: Irwin’s scores showed steady improvement from a strong start to a perfect finale finish, suggesting focused training and chemistry with Carson.

Has Robert Irwin been eliminated from Dancing with the Stars?

No — Robert Irwin was never eliminated. He advanced through all competition weeks to win the Mirrorball Trophy.

No elimination: Robert Irwin won the season

• EW reported Irwin and Carson were among the 11 couples still competing mid-season.
• He survived weeks 9, 10, and 11 to reach the finale.

Elimination process of Season 34

Standard DWTS elimination proceeded weekly, but Irwin never faced elimination due to consistent high scores and audience votes.

The pattern: a clean sweep through all weeks without elimination drama — rare for a first-time contestant.

How much money did Robert Irwin get for winning Dancing with the Stars?

There is no publicly confirmed prize money amount for DWTS winners. The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy is the main award (ABC News).

Prize money for the winner

• No official source has disclosed a cash prize for the Mirrorball Trophy.
• Contestants may negotiate appearance fees, but these are private contractual matters.

No official cash prize confirmed

Speculation about monetary rewards remains unsubstantiated. The prestige of winning — and the career opportunities that follow — likely outweigh any direct cash prize.

The catch: the real financial value is the platform, not a check.

How does Robert Irwin’s DWTS win compare to Bindi Irwin’s?

Both Irwin siblings won, but their journeys and impacts differ significantly.

Bindi Irwin’s DWTS win in 2015

• Bindi Irwin won Season 21 in 2015 with Derek Hough, according to official DWTS records.
• Her win came one day short of a decade before Robert’s, as The Hollywood Reporter noted.

Family legacy of winning the mirrorball

Robert and Bindi are the only sibling pair to both win DWTS. The Hollywood Reporter described this as extending the Irwin family’s legacy beyond conservation work.

Why this matters: two Mirrorball Trophies in one family — across generations — is unprecedented in DWTS history.

What did Robert Irwin dance in the finale and other key weeks?

Irwin’s performances showcased range from jive to quickstep to freestyle.

Finale freestyle: Black and Gold / The Nights

• The freestyle combined “Black and Gold” by Sam Sparro and “The Nights” by Avicii.
• It earned a perfect 30/30 from judges (ABC News).

Wicked-themed performance

• Irwin performed a Wicked-themed dance that received notable attention.
• Specific choreography details remain from broadcast.

Jive to ‘Baby I’m a Star’ by Prince

• His premiere jive to Prince’s “Baby I’m a Star” paid tribute to Steve Irwin’s Crocodile Hunter legacy, as EW reported (confidence: medium).

The trade-off: Irwin’s jive and freestyle earned the top marks, but the shirtless salsa controversy shows the fine line between memorable and regrettable.

Timeline of Robert Irwin and DWTS

Key dates in Robert Irwin’s journey:

Confirmed and unclear facts

Confirmed facts

• Robert Irwin won Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars (ABC News, The Hollywood Reporter).
• He danced with Witney Carson (official DWTS sources).
• Bindi Irwin won Season 21 in 2015 (official DWTS records).
• Robert Irwin apologized to his family for a risqué DWTS moment (Yahoo, multiple news).

What’s unclear

• Exact prize money for winning DWTS – no official amount confirmed.
• Specific judges’ scores for all weeks – partial data available.
• Full details of the ‘spicy’ moment that prompted the apology.
• Whether Robert Irwin will appear on future DWTS specials.
• He performed a freestyle to ‘Black and Gold’ and ‘The Nights’.
• He performed a Jive to ‘Baby I’m a Star’ by Prince.

Quotes and sources

“My sister said it best: Thank you for changing my life.”

Robert Irwin, as quoted by ABC News (the official broadcaster of Dancing with the Stars)

“[Witney Carson] later said she had ‘many moments of regret’ about asking Robert Irwin to go shirtless during a dance.”

Entertainment Weekly (entertainment journalism outlet)

“Robert Irwin’s victory further extends the Irwin family’s legacy beyond conservation work.”

The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment industry publication)

“Robert Irwin and Witney Carson were among the 11 couples still competing.”

Entertainment Weekly (outlet with mid-season reporting)

Robert Irwin’s DWTS win marks the second time an Irwin has claimed the Mirrorball Trophy. But beyond the dance floor, the real question is what comes next. For Robert Irwin, the choice is clear: continue building on the conservation platform his father started, or expand into entertainment. For the Irwin family, the implication is clear: two Mirrorball Trophies in two decades mean the brand extends far beyond Australia Zoo.