China’s top television stars have wages capped at US$7.25 million per season
Deal between production firms, distributors also means film stars can be paid no more than 70 per cent of the total production budget
Nine of China’s top television and film production and distribution companies have agreed to cap wage payments for performers, amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of tax evasion by some of the country’s highest paid celebrities.
Under the new arrangement, television actors will be paid a maximum of 1 million yuan (US$145,000) per episode and not more than 50 million yuan for an entire season, regardless of its length, The Beijing News reported on Sunday.
There are currently about 50 actors in mainland China that could earn 50 million yuan or more for a drama season, the report said, citing industry insiders.
While it is standard practice in China for contracts to quote payments in net terms, the new caps relate to wages before tax, the report said.
As well as the personal salary restrictions, the companies said they would adhere to a government ruling announced in late June that capped television actors’ compensation at 40 per cent of the total production budget. And as with film stars, no more than 70 per cent of that pot will be paid to a single performer, the report said.