The $225,000 Oscars 2020 Gift Bag: Surprises Galore!

On February 9, 2020, the Oscars were held at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, and even the losers got lavish consolation prizes. While just 4 actors and one director will bring home the gold in the top individual categories, all 24 nominees get a six-figure valued gift bag worth $ 225,000 from marketing company Distinctive Assets. The 24-karat-gold-plated statuette, Hollywood’s most-coveted honour costs just $400 to make but the value of all 24 bags is $5.4 million. Distinctive Assets is not associated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is responsible for the Oscars but its lavish gift bags remain a tradition, with the most expensive gift being a $78,000 cruise!

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All the lucky 25 nominees in the actor and director categories usually get bags, but one fewer that year as actress Scarlett Johansson was nominated for both leading and supporting actress. She received only one bag. The Sultan of Swag, Fary, founded Distinctive Assets 20 years ago as an exclusive showroom of costume designers for TV shows. In 2000, he began distributing branded gifts to celebs backstage at the Grammy Awards and now produces gift bags for nearly all the top prestigious awards show.

Holiday, dating, fillers and more

On offer is a romantic vacation in a Spanish lighthouse that was converted into a luxury hotel ($1,300 to $1,800 a night), a year’s worth of membership to a London-based Matchmaking agency ($20,000) and up to $25,000 worth of cosmetic therapies and revitalizing procedures such as fillers and chemical peels from renowned Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevich. Interestingly, the cheapest item in the bag are dark chocolate Milanos, costing just $4.89 for a 10 pack. Among the weirder gifts, sits the Peezy Midstream, a unique urine collection system that has accurate medical testing for infections. A smart bra from Soma measures a woman for the perfect fit.

Inspired by Leo DiCaprio, nominees receive gold-plated vape pen

Creator: Nadirah Zakariya | Copyright: © 2019 | Bloomberg Finance LP

In recent years, the Oscars gift bag had some spirited gifts. 2020 Nominees unwind with chocolates, CBD drinks with syrups and hemp balm mixed with CBD oil and essential oils. There is a $150 golden vape pen, said to be enjoyed by nominee Leonardo DiCaprio. Celebrities need no free swag. Why do we give rich people things they can afford and it’s not about affordability. Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t need $20 million per film, but earns that because of her marquee name.

A “moon-charged” amethyst and 24kt gold leaf bath bomb

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2020’s nominees are particularly wealthy. Three best actress nominees feature in Forbes’ list of top-paid actresses in 2019. Scarlett Johansson ruled with her $56 million in earnings, while Aussie Margot Robbie and South African Charlize Theron, both nominated for the movie Bombshell, also made the list with earnings of $23.5 million and $23 million, respectively. No male nominated for best actor made Forbes’ 2019 ranking. Those receiving the $225,000 Oscars gift bag, pay a price and pay income tax for the monetary value accepted and redeemed gifts. Thus the IRS is a big winner always. The value of the gift bag was later pegged at $225,000 after adding an annual membership to Insignia, valued at $10,000, including on-demand personal assistant services.