Even if you are someone living under a rock, the trail of glitter left behind by the oldest entertainment award in the world could not have missed you in this day and age. No one is a stranger to the prestige that The Oscars, marking its 94th year in function, stands for. Noted to immediately leave a mark on the careers of its nominees and awardees alike, one cannot help but wonder about the path that led to its esteem, the cogwheels behind the acclaim it offers its holder. 

While we do know that it is awarded to some of the best performances in all fields that are involved in the construction of an entire film, one is compelled to dig deeper into the realms of the accolades of The Oscars, if the statuette offered to the awardee is enough to keep all the hunger away.

Despite its prestige, mystique, sobriety and little-finger-flicked elegance, it is for a fact that The Academy Awards, The Oscars, do not have any actual form of material emolument that comes with one's name on its list. Money, as such, is not what these particular awards are made to offer. But in stark contrast, the long term effects stay concrete and life long, from 20-60% of boosts in the salaries of actors upon demand.

Actors are also noticed to receive a multiplied number of brand and endorsement deals, flowing endlessly into the treasure chambers, proving that no matter the compensations of presenting, getting awarded an Oscar promises a lifetime of up-climb rather than even neutral stagnation and might even act as a shield against any threats of downfall. Tomb Raider trademark, Angelina Jolie might be a fine example of popularity boost, seeing as she gained some herself after being handed over the award for Best Supporting Actress, 2000, for Girl, interrupted, after which followed her highly anticipated Tomb Raider, Salt, Maleficent, and now the Oscar nominated biographical drama: Maria, released October 24, 2024 on Netflix. 

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While there are no capital reimbursements for the sweat lost in presenting at the award show, there might be some worth to what is given in hand, might there not? For even a stone can be painted and sold for a few bucks, on today's date.

With no monetary compensation for the Oscar holders, where the actual value of the 13.5 inches tall, 8.5 pounds gold plated statuette translates to roughly $400, (but with immense symbolic value in its stead). There is also, apparently, a consolation package handed over to nominees once they are done with the awards, called the ‘swag bags’, fill-to-the-brim with luxury items, calculated to reach $100, 000, minus the lifetime marker of sophistication in the field of film. 

At the end of the day, there might not be any capital value to the Oscars' statuette, but who could bother worrying about time wasted, when it tags you with a lifetime of not only fame and material profit, but the fulfillment that comes with the acknowledgment of your art, your blood, sweat and tears that have been poured into creating something that grows into something big enough to be appraised though-out the planet. What more can you really ask for?

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What would you do with your Oscar’s statuette? Let us know in the comments below.