Here's Everything Inside the $232,000 Oscars Gift Bag

July 2024 · 4 minute read

Lavish party favors have become a customary perk for nominees at major award shows, but this year the Oscars swag bag is really out of control. This assortment of goodies for 2016 is worth upwards of $232,000—a 40 percent increase from last year's $160,000 bag.

Included among the extravagant gifts is a Vampire breast lift (valued at $1,900), a 10-day VIP trip to Israel ($55,000), a 15-day private walking tour of Japan ($54,000), laser treatments at 740 Park MD ($5,530), a Haze vaporizer ($250), a Nuelle Fiera vibrator ($250), plus many more expensive and bizarre items.

Sounds like a pretty nice haul for Oscar nominees to take home after the big night, especially as a consolation prize for those who don't snag a statue. (Don't worry, Leo, if all else fails at least you'll have your vape pen.)

There's just one little problem—none of this is authorized by the Academy.

Distinctive Assets, the Los Angeles-based marketing firm that puts the bags together, operates independently and has no affiliation with the Academy or the awards ceremony (they stopped officially giving out gifts in 2006 due to scrutiny from the IRS over the high value of the goods). Even still, Distinctive Assets is promoting this year's bag as "The 14th Annual 'Everyone Wins' Nominee Gift Bags in honor of the Academy Awards®."

Needless to say, the Academy is none too happy it. They've filed a lawsuit against the company, seeking an injunction and damages for trademark infringement and misleading the public about its relationship with the Oscars.

"Distinctive Assets' continued use of the Academy's trademarks not only infringes the Academy's trademarks, but it is also likely to dilute the distinctiveness of the Academy's famous trademarks and tarnish their goodwill," the filing read.

Also noted in the complaint was "the less-than-wholesome nature of some of the products contained in the bags." Apparently, the Academy members aren't big fans of vaporizers, sex toys and plastic surgery. Plus, with the #OscarsSoWhite controversy already dominating media coverage of the awards, it seems they're desperate to avoid any further tarnishing of their image. But, uh, this is Hollywood we're talking about, right?

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Here's the full list of items in the *unofficial* 2016 Oscars swag bag:

Headshot of Sarah Lindig

Sarah Lindig is the senior digital editor, overseeing special projects for Harper's Bazaar.

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