88 • JUNE 2026 • PPAI Community | Buzzworthy Awards Season These branded merch collections deserve an Oscar and all the gold medals. Compiled by Sarah Luna The “Everyone’s a Winner” gift bag for the 98th Academy Awards was reportedly worth over $350,000 and included plastic surgery, beauty products and vacation packages. The bag has been curated for 24 years by marketer Lash Fary of Distinctive Assets. “This is something we do independently of the Academy with the intention of elevating small businesses, female-founded brands and minorityowned companies, and also because losing sucks,” Fary told Reuters. So, what’s in the bag? Without further ado, here are (some) of the items: • Arctic villa stay in Finnish Lapland with Northern Lights viewing and a private chef • Bodysculpting liposuction from Dr. Thomas Su • Smilemakeover consultation and teeth whitening from Beverly Hills Dental Arts • Facial rejuvenation from Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevich • Custom prenuptial agreement created by celebrity divorce attorney James Sexton • Highpotency cannabis products from RHYTHM • The Jet Set fragrances from On The Nose Perfumes • Vegan Caviart from PETA • INSTYTUTUM skincare • “Movie Star” limited-edition fountain pen from BENU • Goldplated coldstorage cryptocurrency wallet from Ballet The list goes on (and on and on) from there. With dozens of items available, the bag covers just about everything celebrities can already buy for themselves. But Oscar nominees aren’t obligated to accept the gifts. In fact, many don’t, thanks to good ol’ Uncle Sam. According to the IRS, there’s no redcarpet tax loophole. Because the items are given in connection with a professional role, they’re treated as income. Womp, womp. Other nominees pass on the gifts simply because they don’t move fast enough. Most of the highend luxury items are first-come, first served. In the 2025 swag bag, a private flight and stay in Finland worth $48,000 was available to only one recipient, and just nine nominees could snag a threenight stay in a beachfront villa in Turks and Caicos. You snooze, you lose. If your Hollywood dreams never panned out, you can still indulge them within a plebeian price range. • TruFru Strawberries: $7.27 • Song Survivor Party Game: $20 • Skinny Dipped Almost Bites: $21 • Chocolatecovered pretzels with gold crystals from Posh Pretzels: $30 • Señorita THC-infused non-alcoholic margaritas: $30 • HydroJug Traveler Water Bottle, 32 oz.: $35 • Watermelon Glow Pore Tight Toner and Toner Pads from Glow Recipe: $36 • Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen, SPF 40: $38 • Tea Forte Tea Assortment: $45 • Suavecito Añejo Tequila: $50 1. Want To Peek Inside Those $350,000 Oscars Gift Bags? Andrey Sayfutdinov / Shutterstock.com
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