At the 91st Academy Awards this Sunday evening, only a select few will take home the gold. But win or lose, all 25 acting and directing nominees receive a lavish gift bag.
Los Angeles-based Distinctive Assets, a celebrity and product placement marketing company, has put together the ultimate Oscars gift bags, worth US$148,000 according to Forbes.
The legendary goodie bags, distributed to the 25 nominees in acting and directing, will include hand-made chocolate truffles infused with cannabis. The state of California has recently legalised the drug for recreational use. So, if nominees feel like calming their awards nerves during the ceremony in Los Angeles, they can do so on camera without fear of arrest.
Also in the swagbag is dental floss, therapy sessions with a phobia expert, 15 pairs of luxury false eyelashes and a loo brush.
In addition to these physical gifts, nominees are given vouchers to redeem the big-ticket items, such as this year’s most expensive gift: a luxury cruise for two to Iceland, the Galapagos, the Amazon or Central America. The recipients will also receive up to $30,000 in non-surgical rejuvenation treatments from Manhattan plastic surgeon Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevich.
Distinctive Assets founder Lash Fary explains that the aim of the “Everyone Wins” bags is not to impress with their value, but to celebrate the talents of those in Hollywood and reward them with “fun and festive” gifts.
“A great gift has nothing to do with the cost,” he says.
“We understand the interest in the ‘wow’ number associated with this now-legendary gift bag but we prefer to simply celebrate the fun and festive nature of the contents … no matter how big or small.”
Glenn Close, nominated for The Wife, will have her bag donated to a women’s charity in her name.
