Recently, salaries of the main cast members of the period drama “Joy of Life” Season 2 circulated on Chinese social media, sparking discussions. The 35-year-old male lead, Zhang Ruoyun, received the highest salary of 28 million yuan (approximately 3.87 million USD), which was only 1 million more than his salary for the previous season. However, it was 8 million more than the salary of veteran actor Chen Daoming, who ranked second, surprising many.
According to a report by the NetEase account “Star Cold New Film and Television,” the announcement of “Joy of Life 2,” along with leaks of plot and cast information, has stirred up discussions. Recently, a leaked document detailing the salaries of the leading actors once again made the drama a hot topic.
Firstly, Zhang Ruoyun, the 35-year-old male lead, was rumored to have received 28 million yuan. The report pointed out that as the central figure throughout the series, it was reasonable for Zhang Ruoyun to receive the highest compensation. Moreover, five years ago, when he starred in the first season, he received 27 million yuan, considering his increased popularity and status now, although he had the capability to demand a higher salary, he only received an additional 1 million yuan for the second season. On the other hand, Chen Daoming, who had previously been rumored to consider quitting the show, was rumored to have received 20 million yuan (approximately 2.77 million USD).
Additionally, Li Qin, who played the female lead, was rumored to have received 6 million yuan, Xin Zhilei 5.5 million, and Song Yi was rumored to have received 2 million.
The article suggested, “In an era where popularity reigns supreme, an actor’s popularity is often the most crucial factor determining their salary. While Chen Daoming is widely recognized as a seasoned actor and has delivered outstanding performances in ‘Joy of Life,’ his popularity outside of the drama seems insufficient.”
In fact, in a previous interview program, Wang Zhongjun, founder of the film company “Huayi Brothers,” and Yu Minhong, founder of “New Oriental Education Group,” discussed the prevalence of hardworking young actors from the 1990s and 2000s. Wang Zhongjun expressed the view, “Young people always earn more than the older generation.”
Yu Minhong then asked, “Are there any older Chinese actors now who actually earn higher salaries than the younger ones?” Wang Zhongjun immediately responded, “No,” and when asked about Chen Daoming, he denied, “It’s impossible because he’s not the main lead anymore.”
Wang Zhongjun said, “No matter how great Chen Daoming is, there is no show where he is the main lead. You only play a significant supporting role that suits your age and temperament. It’s not possible for this era to write a role for a 60-year-old man.”
In Wang Zhongjun’s view, whether Chen Daoming is a main lead or earns more than younger actors is “not Chen Daoming’s problem, but an industry problem.”