Grotesque: $500K Golden Globes Gift Bags for Nominees, Still No Recipient Announced for Lifetime Achievement Award

This is beyond grotesque.

There are 83 nominees for the Golden Globes. Since they are all actors or directors or songwriters they are already pampered with free everything. Celebrities rarely open their wallets.

But now the Globes are going give them gift bags worth up to $500,000. That’s some incentive to campaign for a Globe statue. Other critics groups will give the winners a small statue, dinner, and maybe a round trip car ride. But not the Globes. The winners will get all sorts of fancy four star vacations, caviar and — in one case — a $190,000 bottle of wine.

That last item — the wine — presumably goes to the winner of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement. However, as of this writing, no recipient has been announced. Indeed, because there’s no host for the show, no one seems to have noticed the lack of an honoree. I guess the $190K bottle of wine would be an inducement to accept the prize — and an inducement to reluctant nominees to show up at all.

By the way, last year’s recipient, Eddie Murphy, was announced on December 14, 2022. This year”s honoree may be announced live on the air at this point on January 7th.

There have always been gift bags, but this staggering amount really shows the venality of this situation. After all, the United States is involved in two dangerous international wars. There’s a tremendous unsolved homeless problem in Los Angeles. The viewing audience is already skeptical of awards shows, particularly the Golden Globes after three years of scandal. But are we really going to see the stars schlepping these massive piles of swag from the Beverly Hilton? It sounds very unbecoming.

Maybe donate the value of all this crap to charity? Hmmmm…Nah.

Here’s what they get and how many of the nominees are involved for each item. PS Who pays taxes on all this stuff?

Travel and Experiences

1. Abbaye de la Bussiere: Two-Night Stay in Burgundy, France ($2,200, available to all 83 recipients)
2. Celestia Phinisi Yacht: Five-Day/Four-Night Luxury Yacht Charter in Indonesia ($50,000, all 83 recipients)
3. Flockhill Lodge: All-Inclusive Stay in New Zealand for Two People ($15,000, up to 3 recipients)
4. Four Seasons Punta Mita: Full Luxury Experience ($15,000, all 83 recipients)
5. Hotel Wailea, Relais & Château: Two-Night All-Inclusive Stay ($5,500, all 83 recipients)
6. Les Bordes Estate: Stay with Golf Experience ($1,500, up to 15 recipients)
7. Liss Ard Estate: Two-Night Stay in Ireland ($2,200, all 83 recipients)
8. One Aldwych: Three-night stay in Signature Suite, Inclusive of Theater Tickets, VIP Experiences, and Private Tours ($16,000, up to 3 recipients)
9. Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman: Five-Day All-Inclusive Luxury Experience, Including Transportation and Yacht Experience ($20,000, all 83 recipients)
10. Robb Report Car of The Year: Two Drive Spots for a Total of Four Guests ($28K)
11. Seabird Ocean Resort: Three-Night Stay in SoCal with Private Surf Lessons and Custom Surfboard ($6,500, all 83 recipients)
12. The Britely, Pendry West Hollywood: One-Year Membership to a Private Social Club ($3,000, all 83 recipients)
13. The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston: Two-Night Stay with Luxury Wine Experience for Two ($5,000, up to 2 recipients)
14. XO Jet: Complimentary Membership with $10K in Flight Credits ($11,000, up to 10 recipients)

Food and Beverage

1. Caviar Russe: Essential Collection of Gold Ossetra ($545, all 83 recipients)
2. Distillerie de Monaco: Limited Edition Edon Roc Gin ($275, all 83 recipients)
3. Komos: One Bottle of Komos XO ($2,000, 3 recipients)
4. Komos: Bottle of Komos Varietals ($200, all 83 recipients)
5. Liber Pater: The World’s Most Expensive Wine ($193,500/bottle, 1 recipient)
6. Razza: Private Class with one of America’s Greatest Pizzaiolos ($7,000, 1 recipient)
7. Robb Report Culinary Masters: Full Weekend Experience for Four Guests ($25,000)

Apparel and Beauty

1. 111SKIN: Black Diamond Retinol Oil ($250, all 83 recipients)
2. 111SKIN: Rose Gold Radiance Face Mask ($35, all 83 recipients)
3. Atelier Eva: Tattoo Session with a Celebrity Tattoo Artist ($2,500, all 83 recipients)
4. Biologique Spa: Choice of Bespoke Facial or Body Treatment and Skin Analysis ($600, all 83 recipients)
5. Byroe: Tomato Filling Serum ($150, all 83 recipients)
6. Byroe: Truffle Eye Serum ($114, all 83 recipients)
7. Crasqi: Custom Swim Trunks ($200, all 83 recipients)
8. Coomi x Muzo: Colombian Emerald Earrings ($69,000, up to 1 recipient)
9. CurrentBody: LED Facemask ($380, all 83 recipients)
10. Joanna Czech: The Kit; Skincare Essentials ($1,250, up to 25 recipients)
11. Le Domaine: The Cream ($250, all 83 recipients)
12. Le Prairie: Pure Gold Radiance Nocturnal Balm ($1,100, up to 40 recipients)
13. Opie Way: Bespoke, Custom-Made Sneakers ($1,500, up to 5 recipients)
14. Metier: Marrakech Brown Suede Bag ($600, all 83 recipients)
15. Perfumehead: Luxury Perfume ($450, all 83 recipients)
16. Rossano Ferretti: Hair Spa Treatment and Blowout ($1,500, all 83 recipients)
17. S.T. Dupont: Le Grand Dupont Lighter ($1,595, up to 10 recipients)
18. Zenith: Watch and Manufacture Experience ($14,000, up to 2 recipients)