On December 13, 2025, a Chinese male star, Chen Xiao, starring in the drama “The Great Merchant,” is about to air its finale episode, and the remuneration of the cast members has been revealed. Chen Xiao leads the cast with a salary of 10 million Chinese yuan (RMB), followed by 54-year-old Cheng Taishun with 6 million, female lead Sun Qian with 4 million, and supporting actress Li Chun with 3 million.
“The Great Merchant” features actors including Chen Xiao, Sun Qian, Cheng Taishun, Huang Zhizhong, and Li Chun. The storyline unfolds during the late Qing Dynasty, focusing on a scholar named Gu Pingyuan (played by Chen Xiao) who was framed and exiled to Ningguta. It narrates his legendary journey of rising from the bottom to become a business king with his intellect. The drama had surpassed 1 billion views within just 4 days of its premiere, and the current buzz among viewers is not the plot twists or costume details, but a viral “remuneration acting list” circulating on social media.
In this list, the 38-year-old Chen Xiao stands out with a top salary of 10 million yuan. However, behind this 10 million remuneration reveals the “price” Chen Xiao paid: to match the image of a convict in exile, he shaved his head bald, earning him the nickname of “the most handsome bald” among netizens. Additionally, he lost 20 kilograms, reduced his body fat to 8%, and filmed snowy scenes wearing only a thin shirt in minus 20-degree weather, without relying on makeup for dirt under the nails and frostbite.
In a drowning scene, Chen Xiao practiced holding his breath by repeatedly submerging in a fish tank until he vomited by the side after the director called “cut”. In the swamp rescue scene, he rolled in mud until covered in dirt. The martial arts instructor on set disclosed that Chen Xiao’s extreme efforts led to exhaustion from repeated somersaults. His most praised performance aspect is his eye expressions, such as showing fear when attacked by a wolf pack at the start, and transitioning to tearful eyes of joy after being rescued, portraying layers of emotion convincingly.
These on-screen moments of Chen Xiao eventually translate into tangible viewership. According to Chinese media reports, on the drama’s premiere day, Chen Xiao directly contributed to a platform’s addition of 470,000 new members.
However, seeing the “sacrifices” made by Chen Xiao, some viewers express concern, questioning, “Will we see a paper-thin Chen Xiao next time?”
Of note, veteran actor Cheng Taishun not only received a 6 million remuneration but also secured the highest acting score of 9.5. Portraying “Master Chang,” his character had limited screen time, yet a scene where he was buried alive earned him the title of a “hidden ace” among viewers. Buried in soil up to his chest, the faint pulsing veins on his neck, a slight smile-like curve at the corner of his mouth, and the transformation of his eyes from fear to determination left a lasting impression.
What’s surprising is that this 54-year-old actor was once a worker at a steel plant in Shanxi, only leaving his stable job to enroll in drama school at the age of 29. On the set of “The Great Merchant,” he is known as” Doctor Cheng” for always assisting his colleagues with acupuncture tools to relieve fatigue. His serene and contemplative acting style resonates with his lifelong practice of calligraphy and traditional Chinese medicine.
56-year-old actor Huang Zhizhong, with a 6 million remuneration, also exhibits remarkable acting skills. Portraying “Li Wantang,” his character simply sipping tea in a minister’s chair and glancing over, creating a suspenseful atmosphere for viewers. In a confrontational scene in prison with Chen Xiao, the fleeting glint of tears in his eyes conveys both the authority of a business mogul and the conflict of a father’s love intricately intertwined.
In addition, the female lead Sun Qian earned 4 million, while supporting actress Li Chun received 3 million. Many were surprised by Li Chun’s lower income despite her years in the industry and praised acting in “The Great Merchant.” Reports suggest that Sun Qian, being the lead actress, naturally had more screen time than Li Chun’s guest appearance, coupled with Sun Qian’s agency being the well-resourced “Huayi Brothers,” securing her a decent remuneration package.
After enjoying the series, viewers express concerns for Chen Xiao’s extreme efforts and applaud Cheng Taishun’s 6 million remuneration. Some viewers raise questions like, “When a drama sparks a salary storm, are we evaluating acting skills or participating in a pricing game on ‘actor value’?” Some even compare the pay gap between older and younger actors and wonder, “If Cheng Taishun were 20 years younger, could his salary reach 10 million?”