You know how some people just seem to have "it"? In the world of ballroom dance, that "it" usually comes with a thick Ukrainian accent and a lot of chest hair. We're talking about Val Chmerkovskiy, the guy who basically redefined what it means to be a "pro" on Dancing with the Stars. If you’ve spent any time on your couch on Tuesday nights over the last decade, you’ve probably asked yourself: how many mirror balls has Val won exactly? It feels like he’s always in the finale, right?
Honestly, the answer is three.
He’s officially hoisted that sparkling, slightly tacky, and yet highly coveted Mirrorball Trophy three times as a professional partner. But if you ask his die-hard fans, he "won" a lot more than that through iconic performances that didn't technically take the top spot. Think back to the Zendaya season—people still argue about that one at bars.
The Magic Number: Val Chmerkovskiy’s Three Championship Seasons
It took a while for Val to get his first taste of gold. He joined the show as a pro in Season 13, but he didn't actually clinch a victory until Season 20. When he finally did, it wasn't just a win; it was a statement.
1. Season 20: Rumer Willis (2015)
This was the one that broke the seal. Rumer Willis wasn't just "Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's daughter" anymore; she became a dancer. Their chemistry was electric—not necessarily in a romantic way, but in a "we are going to destroy this competition" way. They dominated the season, and when they won, the look of relief on Val's face was palpable. He had finally stepped out of the shadow of his older brother, Maks.
2. Season 23: Laurie Hernandez (2016)
If you want to talk about a ringer, let’s talk about Laurie. Fresh off the Rio Olympics with the "Final Five," she had the athleticism, but Val had to teach her the nuance of ballroom. Watching a world-class gymnast try to keep her legs "soft" was fascinating. They were the frontrunners from Week 1. It was almost a foregone conclusion they would win, and they did, giving Val his second trophy in just four seasons.
3. Season 32: Xochitl Gomez (2023)
This win was special because it felt like a "veteran" victory. Xochitl Gomez, the Marvel star, was young, energetic, and incredibly talented. Val, now older and a father, approached the choreography with a different kind of maturity. They won the inaugural "Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy," which added a layer of emotional weight to the whole thing. It proved that even after decades on the show, Val still had the creative juice to out-choreograph the new kids.
The Wins That Got Away: A History of Near-Misses
To really understand the question of how many mirror balls has Val won, you have to look at the times he should have won. Val is the king of the "Runner-Up" and "Third Place" spots. In fact, his stats are kinda ridiculous when you look at how often he makes the finale.
Take Season 16 with Zendaya. Ask anyone who watched that season—most will tell you they were robbed. They finished in second place behind Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough. It was a literal toss-up, and some fans are still salty about it in 2026.
Then there was Season 31 with Gabby Windey. They were incredible, but they ran into the juggernaut that was Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas. Second place again. Most recently, in Season 34, he and Alix Earle made a massive run for it. They ended up as runners-up to Robert Irwin and Witney Carson.
Val has this uncanny ability to take people who have never danced—and even people who have—and turn them into finalists. His consistency is arguably better than his win count. He’s made the finale in nearly half of the seasons he’s competed in. That’s a better batting average than most Hall of Famers.
Why Val’s Count Matters Compared to Other Pros
In the DWTS hierarchy, three wins puts you in elite territory. Only a handful of pros have reached that mark. Mark Ballas has three. Julianne Hough has two. Cheryl Burke has two.
Then you have Derek Hough, who is the undisputed GOAT with six trophies. Val isn't quite at Derek's level of hardware, but he’s surpassed his brother Maksim, who only ever won one (with Meryl Davis). For a long time, the narrative was all about the "Chmerkovskiy Brothers," but Val has clearly become the more successful competitor in the ballroom.
What makes Val's wins different is his teaching style. He’s known for being a bit of a "tough love" mentor. He doesn't coddle his partners. He treats them like professionals from day one. You can see it in the footwork—his partners usually have the cleanest technique in the building.
The Future: Is There a Fourth Mirrorball Coming?
There has been a lot of chatter lately about Val hanging up his ballroom shoes. He’s 39 now. He’s got a son, Rome, with his wife (and fellow pro) Jenna Johnson. He’s mentioned in recent interviews that he "wants to beat this body up as much as I can" while he still loves to dance, but he knows the clock is ticking.
Producers always want him back because he brings the drama and the quality. But with the rise of younger pros like Rylee Arnold and Alan Bersten, the competition for the trophy is getting younger and faster.
Val recently noted that he’d love to transition into a judging role eventually. He already did a stint on DWTS: Juniors, and he was surprisingly good at it—fair but firm. If he does retire soon, he leaves behind a legacy of three wins and a dozen "what if" moments that defined the show for a generation.
How to Follow the Chmerkovskiy Legacy
If you're a fan trying to keep track of the ever-changing stats of Dancing with the Stars, there are a few things you should do to stay in the loop:
- Watch the Redemptions: If you want to see why Val wins, go back and watch the "Redemption Dances" from his winning seasons. It shows exactly how he fixes technical flaws in his partners.
- Follow the "Dance With Me" Studios: Val and Maks own a chain of studios. If you want to see their methodology in person, that’s where the real work happens.
- Check the Finale Stats: Every year the "win" count for pros is updated. While Val sits at three right now, he is always one good partner away from tying the all-time records for most finals appearances.
Whether he wins a fourth or stays at three, Val Chmerkovskiy has already cemented his spot as the "Pro's Pro." He’s the guy other dancers look to when they want to see how a Tango is actually supposed to look on television.
The most important takeaway for any fan is this: don't just look at the trophy count. Look at the seasons where he took someone like Victoria Arlen—who had no feeling in her legs—and made her a semi-finalist. That’s where the real "wins" are.
To stay updated on the upcoming Season 35 in late 2026, keep an eye on the official ABC casting announcements. Every season starts with the same question: who will Val get, and can he finally hit that fourth win? Only time, and a whole lot of sequins, will tell.
Next Steps for Fans:
Start by reviewing the Season 32 highlights of Val and Xochitl Gomez to see the modern standard of DWTS choreography. If you're looking to improve your own ballroom knowledge, look into the International Latin syllabus which Val uses as the foundation for all his celebrity training. Finally, keep an eye on his wife Jenna Johnson's career; she currently has two wins of her own, making them the most successful power couple in the show's history.