07.11.2025 20:37
The per-episode costs of the 45 series currently airing in Turkey have reached up to 35 million TL, and the total budget circulating in the industry is approaching 1 billion TL. In addition to record production expenses, actor salaries are also a hot topic. Notably, among male actors, those signing contracts worth millions of lira are standing out. Stars like Kenan İmirzalioğlu, Barış Arduç, and Çağatay Ulusoy are among the highest-paid actors on television, earning between 3 and 4.5 million TL per episode.
Currently, the episode costs of 45 series airing in Turkey have reached record levels, while the total budget circulating in the industry has approached 1 billion TL. The salaries of actors are as striking as production costs. Especially among male actors, earnings expressed in millions highlight the competition in the industry.
AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN: KENAN İMİRZALIOĞLU – 4.5 MILLION TL
Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, the lead actor of the series A.B.İ – A Family is a Test, which airs on ATV, has become the highest-earning male actor on screen with 4.5 million TL per episode.
BARIŞ ARDUÇ – 3.5 MILLION TL
Barış Arduç, who appears in ATV's other high-budget series Love and Tears, earns 3.5 million TL per episode. It has been learned that the actor received his payment for 13 episodes in advance, totaling 45.5 million TL.
STABLE RISE: ÇAĞATAY ULUSOY – 3 MILLION 250 THOUSAND TL
Çağatay Ulusoy, the lead actor of Kanal D's notable production Eşref Rüya, earns 3 million 250 thousand TL per episode, placing him high on the list. Ulusoy continues to transfer his success from digital platforms to television.
AKIN AKINÖZÜ – 1.5 MILLION TL
Akın Akınözü, who plays the lead role in Show TV's series Heir, earns 1.5 million TL per episode.
OZAN AKBABA – 1.5 MILLION TL
Ozan Akbaba, who appears in the series Distant City on Kanal D, has also made his name on the list of actors earning 1.5 million TL per episode. Both the actor's performance and earnings are on the industry's agenda.
GIANT BUDGETS BEHIND THE SCREEN
The production costs of the series range from 18 to 35 million TL per episode, and these giant budgets directly reflect on the earnings of star actors. Increasing competition, channel investments, and international sales targets are pushing actor salaries higher each season.