It's been one whiplash of a week. Social media has been buzzing with—well, you know, that thing that happened during the Oscars ceremony. The show was so bad that we have written about how mean-spirited it was too, and how disconnected it all seemed from the actual art and love of film.

The whole thing seems to have turned a spotlight on the Oscars as an institution, and how Hollywood, and its stars, seem to operate on another plane of reality.

Look. Event gift bags are not a new thing. Trust me. I've seen it firsthand. Actors will swing by someone's house for a free Rolex, then take a provided car somewhere else to get yet more stuff. So for anyone already in the industry, it makes some sense that Hollywood's biggest and most glitzy event would have the most ridiculous swag bag.

The "Everyone Wins" bag is the Oscars' most famous. Put together by marketing firm Distinctive Assets each year, it always makes the trades for its outlandish items.

And despite the bag's "Everyone Wins" title, this gift is not for everyone.

Distinctive Assets founder Lash Fary limits the recipients to just 28 people—this year, that means the nominees for Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Director, as well as hosts Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, and Regina Hall.

(Sucks to be below the line, I guess!)

107036961-1648237913272-img_3022The "Everyone Wins" swag bagCredit: Distinctive Assets

This year's bag has gone a little bit viral—again, probably because of the drama surrounding the ceremony as a whole.

Do you wanna know what's inside?

According to CNBC, it's valued at about $137,000 and contains over 50 items and experiences, including:

  • A three-night stay at Turin Castle in Scotland ($50,000)
  • The title of "Lord" or "Lady of Glencoe"—and a small plot of land in Scotland
  • "Celebrity Arms" liposuction procedure from cosmetic surgeon Dr. Thomas Su ($12,000)
  • Luxury home renovations from LA-based Maison Construction ($25,000)
  • Treatments from New York plastic surgeon Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevich ($10,000)
  • A four-night stay for two at the Golden Door luxury resort in Escondido ($15,000)
  • A tea gift set from The Chai Box
  • Popcorn from Opopop
  • A life-coaching session with wellness expert Kayote Joseph ($1,200)

Is this all for PR? Yes. These businesses and brands want to get themselves in the hands of big-name celebrities, so that's why all this is offered gratis.

What we can hope is, if accepted, some of these gifts get distributed among the assistants and team members who work so hard behind the scenes.

Is it all taxable? Also yes.

But as Fary tells CNBC, "The reality is if you do get to go on a $50,000 trip, and all you have to do is pay a tax percentage of that value, you’re still getting a pretty good deal. No one wants a deal more than rich people."

Source: CNBC

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