Receiving this coveted golden trophy at the Academy Awards is one of the highest honors for those working in the film industry.
A-list actors nominated for major awards like an Oscar are often swimming in cash since they've taken Hollywood by storm and appeared in some of the most-watched films of the year.
Margot Robbie has been named the second highest-paid actress of 2023, behind Adam Sandler, according to Forbes. Robbie earned around $59 million last year, according to the source. Most of that money came from the film “Barbie,” a film currently in the running for Best Picture at the 2024 Academy Awards.
“Barbie” co-stars Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie were both included on Forbes' list of the highest-paid actors of 2023. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
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Ryan Gosling, another “Barbie” star, was also named one of the highest-paid actors of 2023, bringing in an estimated $43 million, according to Forbes. He earned himself a controversial Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role in the film, although his co-star Robbie and director Greta Gerwig were snubbed.
And while there are nominees, winners, and snubs, only the Oscar winners walk away with that all-important trophy and strong potential for financial gain in the future. However, some walk away with even more.
What do celebrities get when they win or are nominated for an Oscar?
Sources have reported in the past that a “goody bag” was being given to some candidates by a marketing company called Distinctive Assets. This company has been distributing bags for over 20 years. The “swag bag” is no ordinary gift bag, however, and is designed just for A-list stars.
In 2022, the value of the famous bag was $137,000, according to CNBC.
Baggage that year included a liposuction procedure worth $12,000, home renovations worth $25,000, a four-night stay at a luxury resort, a life coaching session and even a small plot of land in Scotland. So, in 2022, not only did some leave the ceremony with an Oscar title, but also the title of “Lord” or “Lady of Glencoe” hidden with their new piece of land.
Not every nominee gets the bag, but in 2022, nominees for Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Director, along with the three hosts of the ceremony, all received one, according to the media.
Some Oscar nominees can win a six-figure “goody bag.” (Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP, File)
In 2023, the famous gift bag was valued at $126,000, according to Forbes. Last year, the giveaway included a visit worth $40,000 to a luxury Canadian estate called The Lifestyle and a three-night stay at an Italian lighthouse worth $9,000, according to the outlet.
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“Obviously, [the nominees] can afford to go wherever they want,” Distinctive Assets founder Lash Fary told Forbes. “It's not about it being free. It's about the fact that we found a unique venue that offers built-in celebrity intimacy. I mean, it's a lighthouse on a hillside on an island off the coast of Italy – it's very private.”
Oscar winners go home with a gold statue in one hand and a “goodie bag” in the other. Not only that, but winning an Oscar usually also offers the potential for massive financial gains in future projects.
In 2016, Money Nation revealed that stars received an average pay raise of 60% after winning an Oscar. New A-List stars, who are early in their careers, see a much bigger difference in salary increases after winning an Oscar.
Do celebrities get paid to win an Oscar?
Winners do not directly receive additional money after winning an Oscar, according to Good Housekeeping. Although no checks will be written to Oscar winners or nominees, stars can expect career advancement opportunities.
While stars like Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio have gained almost as much prestige as any actor, newcomers can also see their careers explode after an Oscar win.
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Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won an Oscar for “Good Will Hunting” in 1998. (Getty Images)
Take for example Lupita Nyong'o, who won an Oscar in 2014 for her performance in “12 Years a Slave,” which was her first major role after joining the company, according to IMDb. After his victory, Nyong'o starred in Marvel's “Star Wars,” “Black Panther” and many other high-profile, high-earning films.
One of the most famous Oscar wins in history was that of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who saw their careers take off after their film “Good Will Hunting” won two Academy Awards. The couple wrote and starred in the film. Damon and Affleck won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the 1997 film. Robin Williams also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dr. Sean Maguire.
Since then, Damon has earned three more nominations and Affleck won the 2013 Best Picture Oscar for the film “Argo.”