Kathmandu, March 3: At the recent Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles, the film “Anora”—based on the story of a sex worker—won awards in five categories, including Best Film. Despite being one of the most prestigious awards in the film industry, the Oscar trophy itself carries a symbolic sale value of just $1 (about Rs. 140 at today’s exchange rate).

The gold-plated trophy, which stands 13.5 inches tall and weighs 8.5 pounds, costs around $400 (or Rs. 55,000) to make. However, rules set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences require that any Oscar trophy sold by a winner must first be offered to the Academy for only $1. This rule, in effect since 1951, means that no trophy awarded under these conditions has ever been legally sold for more than this nominal amount.

In contrast, trophies awarded before 1951 have fetched high prices at auction. For example, the Best Picture trophy awarded to “Gone with the Wind” in 1939 sold for $1.54 million in 1999, and the Best Original Screenplay trophy for “Citizen Kane” from 1941 sold for $861,000. There have also been unconfirmed rumors of trophies from later years being sold illegally, including one awarded to Marlon Brando for “The Waterfront” in 1954, though legal actions by the Academy have halted such efforts.

The rule emphasizes that while the trophy symbolizes the highest honor in film, its monetary value remains strictly symbolic, underscoring the prestige and legacy associated with winning an Oscar.