It's a real Ali Baba's cave.
The Spanish newspaper
El Pais
visited Lash Fary, the creator of gift bags for Oscar nominees, at the end of February.
Worth 180,000 dollars this year (around 165,000 euros,
Editor's note
), they contain various things, between beauty products, alcohol and food and are offered to those nominated in the most important categories.
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For at least two decades, the custom has persisted in Los Angeles: the bag of “goodies” with which certain stars leave after the Oscar ceremony.
Offered to nominees in the premier categories, that of best actress, best supporting actress, best actor, best supporting actor and best director (which is equivalent to 26 people), this year it contains dozens of products: moisturizers worth over $500 (450 euros), soft drinks, bags, biscuits, facial cleansers, kitchen accessories, aprons, pet food.
But also tequila, pillowcases, chocolates, personalized 3D figurines, undershirts, books, dental mouthwashes... Not forgetting a portable barbecue worth 1,300 dollars (1,200 euros).
Lash Fary introduced this process for the first time at the Grammys Awards in 2000. The concept, first established as a pop-up store where he sold “clothing and jewelry,” was quickly transformed into a partnership with brands, who sent him products to give to the stars of the red carpet.
“They [
gifts, Editor’s note
] have value, and that always pleases celebrities.
And let's face it, you're never famous enough not to accept free stuff.
Everyone wins,” he assures the Madrid daily.
Travel
However, what increases the bill is not the quantity of products physically present in the bag, but rather the trips, offered in the form of “vouchers”.
If the destinations have not been filtered, we can easily imagine that they are prestigious.
But, according to Lash Farry, the 2024 vintage is almost at an “average” level: “It is not the most expensive year, some [
baskets, Editor’s note
] reached the amount of 225,000 dollars (205,000 euros)”, before specifying that “no one would be able to tell the difference.
It’s the trips that make the mark, because the products remain the same year after year.
We offer around 50 products and also some gift certificates.
Anecdotes
After more than 20 years of showering stars with gifts, the 50-year-old entrepreneur has had his share of anecdotes.
Thus Bradley Cooper has been named so often that “we have been sending him things for years, we go to his house, we already have his address”.
Sandra Hüller, who is a contender for this year's Oscar for best actress, expressly asked if the bag could be sent to her home in Germany.
We now know what actors, actresses, directors and directors win at the Oscars.
Even if it's not a little golden statuette.