Oscar 2010 Swag

by Kelly

The Oscars are here again.  I love the Oscars although with 10 movies nominated in the best picture category, I’ve given up my usual tradition of trying to see all of the nominees.

One of the side-stories that I always find interesting is the swag that celebrities walk away with.  I guess it interests me because I just can’t imagine getting gifts so extravagent – even after the IRS cracked down in 2006 to ensure celebrities paid taxes on these free gifts, the “swag” is still rather impressive. 

Here is the swag that nominees who do not take home the statue will receive (Distinctive Assets, who put together the bags, estimates their worth at $91,000):

$45,000 African safari trip complete with personal chef at the Lions Sands Game Preserve in South Africa

$14,500 stay at the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel in Monaco

$7,000 rustic getaway at the Winvian Luxury Hotel in Connecticut

Swiss Army has crafted a special leather suitcase worth $4000 – there are only 175 of them in the world.

gourmet chocolate from Chocolatines by Sweet Endeavours (including Chocolate-dipped bacon)

personal training sessions and a one-week all inclusive fitness bootcamp

ideeli.com online shopping cards

Tiffany cat collar and “designer dog toys”

WooLoot sport watches

The Pig Board

iFLY indoor skydiving experience

HGTV “Green Home” mattress by Serta

personal security alarm

1 year supply of Altoids Smalls

 

Lauren Bush’s FEED Haiti tote bag is the official “goodie” bag of the 2010 Ocsars.

It will contain Virgin Atlantic travel “gold cards” which provide access to world class lounges, priority check-in, upgrades, limo service and more miles; CDs; Vineyard Vines ties and preppy boxers; and Frank O’Hara’s acclaimed book of poetry entitled, “Meditations in an Emergency“.

The whole point of these gifts is to get celebrities to use/endorse/be photographed with these products.  I do hope that a few choose the charity option however – apparently, the can refuse the bags and donate the value to charity.