Khaberni - On Oscar night, stars don’t necessarily need to touch gold to return home as winners; behind the sparkle of golden statues, the nominees await a "consolation prize" that surpasses the limits of imagination. This year's “Everyone Wins” gift bag has set a new record with an estimated value of around $350,000.
This legendary bag, exclusively offered to the top nominees in the major categories, contains not just ordinary gifts, but a "pass" to a world of absolute luxury; including travel packages to secret destinations and private resorts, health treatments utilizing the latest youth-renewing technologies, and exclusive lifestyle products not available to the general public. While some leave the stage disappointed by the "loss," this bag ensures their night is still crowned with pampering worthy of Hollywood’s elite.
The marketing company “Distinctive Assets” in Los Angeles assembles these bags, and while they are media-associated with the Oscars, they are not officially affiliated with the Academy, but rather a private marketing project, involving brands that offer products or services in return for the media buzz that accompanies the unveiling of the bag’s contents, according to “The National News”.
The bags are usually distributed to the nominees in the four acting categories, in addition to Best Director.
Luxury travel
Travel experiences form the largest part of the bag's value this year, including among the highlights, a stay in a luxury villa in Ibiza that can accommodate up to 16 guests, along with a trip to Sri Lanka.
Among this year's unusual additions is a free consultation for a prenuptial agreement from a specialist family law firm in California.
The bag also includes relaxation programs, health treatments, cosmetic procedures, skincare products, and a variety of lifestyle products, reflecting the dual role of these bags: celebrating the nominees on one hand, and providing a promotional platform for brands, especially small companies seeking broader international exposure, on the other.
Who benefits?
The bags are awarded to the nominees in the acting categories and Best Director, and the top nominees are as follows:
The nominees for Best Director are: Chloe Zhao, Josh Safdie, Paul Thomas Anderson, Joachim Trier, and Ryan Coogler.
For Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, and Wagner Moura.
The nominees for Best Actress are: Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve, and Emma Stone.
The nominees for Best Supporting Actor are: Benicio del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Delroy Lindo, Sean Penn, and Stellan Skarsgaard.
For Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning, Inga Eiriksdottir Liliaceae, Amy Madigan, Wunmi Mosaku, and Teyana Taylor.
The Tax Aspect
Despite the celebratory nature of the bag, accepting it can entail financial obligations, as many of the contents are considered taxable income in the United States, meaning stars who accept the gifts are required to disclose their value to the U.S. Tax Service and pay the applicable taxes on them.
