Oscar Swag Bags: A Look Inside Past & Present Giveaways

Losing just got a little easier, and the consolation prize even bigger. Notorious for being over the top, the opulent Oscar “swag bags” put together by L.A. marketing firm Distinctive Assets, are given to the nominees of best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, and best director, who don’t end up taking home an eight pound statuette. In years past, these bags have been stocked with gifts such as interior design services, plastic surgery vouchers, and luxury vacation packages. Coming in at the most expensive yet, the swag bag of 2016 is valued at $232,000 and contains some of the finest, and most intriguing gifts we’ve ever seen. And since there’s no such thing as walking away empty handed at the Oscars, we’ve highlighted the best and most extravagant gifts from Oscar swag bags past and present.

2012 – Total Value: $62,023.26
Gifts from the 2012 bag included items such as a $15,580 Premier Tours Elephant Back Safari and a $15,000 Disaronno sponsored party. The vacation was a four night stay for two people in Botswana, Africa and covered all food, drinks, elephant interactions and other viewing activities. Disaronno offered their services in providing an open bar for a party up to 100 guests, at a location of the star’s choosing. Other deluxe gifts consisted of $10,000 towards Seyie Design and a $1,645 voucher from Dr. Garth Fisher for non-surgical beauty treatments.

Lizard Island Resort

2013 – Total Value: $47,802.00
Although considered to be less vacation based, the 2013 gift bag did not disappoint. Comprised of a $12,000 trip to Australia, $4,100 weeklong all-inclusive weight-loss retreat, and a $1,800 year long membership to Heathrow VIP, the airport’s luxury lounge with exclusive services and amenities. While travelling to Australia, celebrities had the option to stay in the Outback or Great Barrier Reef. Considered one of the top 10 international hideaways by Andrew Harper, the resort at Lizard Island is a premier island destination with 40 luxury suites available and 24 white sand beaches. El Questro Wilderness Park offers an exclusive five-star Homestead or cabins for lodging, and has activities such as barramundi fishing and helicopter exploration.

Steamist Home Spa

2014 – Total Value: $55,000.00
With vacations to both Japan and Las Vegas valued at $24,000, the 2014 bag pulled out all the stops. Sponsored by Walk Japan, celebrities were able to experience a guided walking tour through Japan. In Las Vegas, celebrities were given backstage passes to meet musical artists Meatloaf and Boyz II Men, and indulged in a two night stay in the penthouse suite at the Riviera Hotel. Also included in the bag were spa and water filtration systems from Steamist and Krystal Klear Water, together worth $7,455.

2015 – Total Value: $168,000.00
Containing considerably “odd items”, the 2015 bag included a $20,000 astrology reading from Enigma Life, $14,239 towards a lifestyle makeover, and $4,068 L.E.D. liposuction. From Ventura, the L.E.D. lipo-light claims to help you lose three to nine inches in three weeks without going under the knife. The lifestyle makeover from Reset Yourself, requires a hair sample to be submitted, then based on the results, stars received a personalized kitchen detox and cooking lessons with an organic chef in order to jumpstart their lifestyle improvement.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo – Lake Como, Italy

2016 – Total Value: $232,000.00
The most extravagant bag of them all, the outrageous gifts of 2016 will include a total of five vacations to Israel, Japan, Italy, and two separate locations in California. The trips together are worth over $120,000 and nominees will also receive a 10,000 meal donation to an animal shelter or rescue of their choosing, valued at $6,300. Beauty treatments such as the “vampire breast lift” from Dr. Runels (the inventor of the vampire facelift) are also included, worth $1,900, and a plastic surgery voucher from 740 Park will be worth $5,530. The premier plastic surgery office is located on the Upper East Side of New York and run by two highly skilled, and respected surgeons, Dr. Daniel Maman and Dr. Stafford Broumand.