Despite the strong buzz surrounding the historical drama Glory, the reported salaries of its two lead actors—Hou Minghao and Gülnezer Bextiyar—have taken many by surprise. The series, starring Hou Minghao and Gülnezer Bextiyar, is currently airing and drawing significant attention from audiences. According to Maoyan’s popularity rankings, the drama has consistently held the top spot, outperforming other concurrent releases such as The Truth Within (starring Luo Yunxi), The Dream Maker (starring Zhao Liying), and Love between Lines (starring Lu Yuxiao and Chen Xingxu).
As the show’s popularity continues to rise, discussions have naturally extended to the cast’s remuneration. According to information reported by Sohu, Glory was produced with a relatively modest budget compared to previous projects the two leads had participated in. As a result, the actors’ fees were reportedly adjusted downward.
Hou Minghao is said to have received a fee of 7 million yuan, which is about 1 million yuan less than what he earned for The Unclouded Soul, his previous collaboration with Tan Songyun. Even so, his pay remains the highest among the entire cast.
In contrast, Gülnezer Bextiyar reportedly earned around 3 million yuan, less than half of the 8 million yuan she previously received for The Journey of Legend, where she starred alongside Cheng Yi. The notable gap between the two leads’ salaries has sparked discussion among viewers, especially given Gülnezer Bextiyar’s established popularity and screen presence.
As for the supporting cast, actor Zhao Yiqin (who plays Yan Bailuo) and actress Zhang Nan (who plays Rong Yunshu) are each reported to have earned around 800,000 yuan.
Glory centers on the story of Lu Jianglai, a young top scholar portrayed by Hou Minghao. After being appointed as a county magistrate, he becomes entangled in an old case, narrowly escapes death, and suffers from amnesia. During a critical moment, he is saved by Rong Shanbao, played by Gülnezer Bextiyar.
As Lu Jianglai recovers under Rong Shanbao’s care, he gradually falls for her and finds himself competing for her affection against several other men. Ultimately, he wins her heart. The drama’s romantic pursuit has been likened by viewers to a gender-reversed version of Empresses in the Palace, offering an engaging and refreshing twist that has kept audiences hooked.
Sources: LD