Recently, 40-year-old Taiwanese actor Mike He (賀軍翔) revealed in an interview that, even after 24 years in the industry, he is still paying off his mortgage. Having supported his parents with their mortgage payments early in his career, and later taking on his own after starting a family, he remains a “mortgage slave” at 40.
Despite his success and recognition as a Taiwanese celebrity, Mike He’s discussion reveals a less optimistic situation for performers in the Taiwanese entertainment industry. He mentioned that while work was feasible in his youth, as he has aged, filming jobs have become unstable, not guaranteeing work every year, hence placing a heavier financial burden on him.
Even as a celebrity, Mike He’s lifestyle resembles that of the average person, noting times when he must carefully plan due to his less than ideal financial situation.
Underneath the comments of Mike He’s mortgage revelation, nearly all are messages of surprise from netizens. His situation would be relatively rare in the Mainland Chinese entertainment industry, where celebrities are unlikely to still be paying off mortgages.
In fact, some might recall that not long ago, Eddy Ou (歐弟) mentioned in an interview his plan to sell his sports car to support his two daughters, as he too faced difficulties after returning to develop his career in Taiwan.
With the rapid growth of the Mainland Chinese entertainment industry in recent years, the income gap between Taiwanese artists and their Mainland counterparts is stark. An online comparison showed that Taiwanese actors could earn about five times more in Mainland China than in Taiwan; for instance, earning 80,000 yuan per episode in Taiwan compared to 500,000 yuan in Mainland China.
This context helps explain why Mike He, even after 24 years in the industry, is still paying off a mortgage, as the earnings for someone who has primarily worked in Taiwan are minuscule compared to the colossal sums in the Mainland entertainment industry.
