The $1 Million Gift Bag
When I was younger, I loved watching award shows like the Oscars, Emmys and Golden Globes. Now, I can barely watch a movie if it stars an A-lister. It's just too hard for me to suspend my disbelief when I know all the supposed details of their personal lives as served up daily by the media. These days, we know how they vote, what their net worth is, whether they cheat on their spouse, and if they're up-to-date on their child support.
Hollywood award shows have long been criticized as schmoozefests for rich, artificial people to congratulate one another. Still, a lot of these movie stars are worshipped by millions of young people, and the award shows continue to reinforce each respective cult of personality. The downside of this, of course, is that young men and women tend to admire and attempt to emulate the plasticity of Hollywood, with often unattainable goals of beauty, fitness and wealth.
Having said that, the 82nd Golden Globes were held a week ago at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California (two days before the fires started).
According to the Golden Globes and Robb Report Magazine (who curated the items), 100 presenters and winners at the event were offered ‘The Ultimate Gift Bag’, a $1 million dollar thank you for attending. The gift bag includes just about everything that a wealthy person doesn't need. Yes, I know that without incentives, there's fewer stars. Fewer stars equals fewer viewers. In this case, sponsors win, the show wins, and the stars win.
The bag itself is an Atlas Bespoke Weekender Bag (pictured), with a brushed stainless steel Golden Globes travel tag. Inside is a catalogue, from which the stars can order:
Travel and Experiences
ACX Access and Helsinki Citycopter: A private flight and stay in Finland to see the Northern Lights ($48,000, available to one recipient)
The Reserve at Grace Bay by Beach Enclave: Three-night stay in a beachfront villa in Turks and Caicos ($507,492, available to nine recipients)
Celestia Phinisi Yacht: Five-day luxury yacht charter throughout the Coral Triangle in Indonesia ($60,000, available to all 100 participants)
JOALI BEING: Five-night stay and wellness experience in the Maldives ($33,800, available to 50 participants)
L’Ermitage Beverly Hills: One-night stay in a Beverly Hills suite ($1,500, available to all 100 participants)
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve: Three-night stay in the Bali Jungle ($5,800, available to three participants)
Round Hill Hotel and Villas: Three-night stay in a 6-bedroom Caribbean estate villa ($35,000, available to one participant)
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman: Five-night stay in a Grand Cayman resort ($55,000, available to all 100 participants)
The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart: Two-night stay and whisky experience in Tasmania, Australia ($4,935, available to five participants)
Beauty, Apparel, and Wellness
BEAU DOMAINE: The Fluid Cream ($209, available to all 100 participants)
Coyuchi: A choice of decadent organic-linen or cotton sateen sheets ($572 – $1,392, available to all 100 participants)
CurrentBody: A cutting-edge LED Light Therapy Face Mask Series 2 ($469, available to all 100 participants)
Dr. Simon Ourian: A non-surgical Stemcell Facelift ($40,000, available to one participant)
EXPONENT: Vitamin C Serum and COQ10 ($98, available to all 100 participants)
FEMMUE: A kit of flowery skin-care essentials ($290, available to all 100 participants)
FORWARD__Space: A personalized, dance-focused workout and wellness experience ($15,000, available to 25 participants)
La Prairie: Pure Gold Radiance Concentrate serum ($935, available to 40 participants)
NB44: A custom-designed suit handcrafted in Italy ($11,400, available to three participants)
NordicTrack: A cutting-edge NordicTrack Ultra 1 treadmill ($15,000, available to four participants)
Perfumehead: An exquisite small-batch fragrance from the award-winning LA Collection ($615, available to 50 participants)
The Maybourne Beverly Hills: Oxygen Facial ($1,400, available to 10 participants)
Wine, Spirits, and Cigars
Casa Komos Brands Group: A rare bottle of Komos XO tequila ($2,000, available to 10 participants)
Casa Komos Brands Group: The celebrated collection of Reposado Rosa, Añejo Cristalino, Añejo Reserva, and Extra Añejo ($950, available to 15 participants)
Casa Komos Brands Group: A sustainability-minded trip to the Komos Foundation in Tequila, Mexico ($5,500, available to one participant)
Davidoff Cigars: A humidor made for travel ($440, available to 20 participants)
Isle of Harris Distillery: A bottle of The Hearach Single Malt Scotch Whisky and/or Isle of Harris Gin ($90 and $150, available to all 100 participants)
Liber Pater: Wine tasting and dinner experience in Bordeaux, France ($272,000, available to one participant)
Liber Pater: A trio of ultra rare 2015, 2018, and 2019 vintages ($34,8000, available to one participant)
As you can see, some of the gifts are available to all 100 recipients, while some are only available to a select few. So, not all 100 VIPs get a million dollar gift bag? Could it be a first come, first served basis? My guess is that the bigger the star, the more swag you get. I read that in the past, some celebs have turned down award show gift bags. I'm guessing it's because of the taxes that must surely be charged.
This is not meant to be an attack on celebrities, or the industry, especially during the fire crisis in California. Just my thoughts. My heart goes out to every person, and creature affected by this tragedy.
On a similar note, Forbes Magazine reported that celebrities who are contributing to fire-related causes include Paris Hilton, Selena Gomez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Kylie Jenner, Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, and Bethenny Frankel.
