Reportedly $100,000. Although the big ticket items are things like hotel stays that they don’t always use, especially since they discovered all gifts they use are taxable. In the past, swag bags have been worth up to 250K. Those gift bags are not put together by the Oscars, they are companies looking for celebrity endorsement, or a photo of a celeb with their product. From what I’ve read, many of these richy rich celebs are spoiled and don’t feel they should pay for anything. I once waited on Roberta Flack (I worked a few blocks from The Dakota) who was a snobby bitch and not only did she not pay the bill, she did not leave a tip either. The manager was all starry-eyed and I’m like Hey! WTF! lol
I bodyguarded Eva Longoria and her NBA husband as they were rolling out their home & garden line in San Antonio. I was amazed how tiny both of them were.
For a short time I worked at Maggiano’s at the Grove in Los Angeles. So one night Jay Leno get’s seated in my section. He’s having dinner with his wife. After they have desert my manager comes up to me and and asked me how much Leno’s tab was, I told him about $100.00 with drinks. He say’s I’m gonna help you make some extra money tonight, I’m gonna comp his entire tab. Didn’t Leno leave me a $20.00 tip. Here’s a guy who was making over $25 million a year, has his entire meal and drinks were comped and leaves a $20.00 tip. The manager gave me a $50.00 gift card to help ease the pain.
Back before I met my wife she was working the backstage security entrance at a concert and Madonna walked up and demanded to be let in. She wasn’t on the list and got denied access. She pulled the “do you know who I am?” routine and my wife said “Yes, Madonna, and you’re still not getting backstage.”