If you’re a rising star or Hollywood executive, and you’re sitting next to a millionaire in the prime seats at the Golden Globes, chances are they paid to get in.
In fact, admission to the Golden Globes can now be purchased for $70,000, a move Hollywood insiders called a “shameless” move by Penske Media, which owns the awards, and the magazine, which is offering tickets through its concierge gift guide.
For $70,000, big-money buyers and their guests can walk the red carpet and attend the after-party, as well as get a stylist, a stay at the Peninsula Beverly Hills, and a coveted swag bag with an award.
The Robb Report, the luxury magazine that organizes awards gift bags and is also owned by Penske Media, is offering three sets of tickets to the Golden Globes for $70,000 each through its concierge service, The Vault’s Ultimate Gift Guide. (Rob Report’s president is also PMC’s head of luxury goods sales.)
Tickets to the Golden Globes are being offered by The Vault, along with other merchandise including a $4.5 million powerboat, a $110,000 Cartier watch, a $200,000 Chardonnay and winery tour, and an “Aspen Adventure” with pro surfer Laird Hamilton and “free solo” climber Alex Honnold.
An entertainment industry veteran noticed tickets to the Golden Globes on sale amidst luxury goods and told Page Six, “This is shameless…$70,000 for a pair of tickets, and the ticket includes a tuxedo!”
According to the FAQ page on the official Golden Globe Awards website, the question “Can I get tickets to attend the Golden Globe Awards?” is not answered. There is a seemingly definitive answer.
“No, tickets to the awards ceremony will not be available to the general public. Audience members include nominees, studio and broadcast partners, sponsors, presenters, and guests of the Golden Globes,” it now says. (The FAQ also states that “the Golden Globes red carpet is only available to authorized media members working on the event.”)
“Tickets for the Golden Globes are not available or for sale to the public,” a Golden Globes spokesperson said when we reached out for comment.
The public Vault site says, “See something you like? Add it to your wish list and contact us. One of our concierges will contact you shortly to facilitate your purchase and connect you with the appropriate seller.” When you click on the ticket form, the site displays: “Thank you for your interest. Please provide the following information. A Vault concierge will contact you shortly to confirm your inquiry. Once verified, your information will be provided to the appropriate merchant and they will contact you regarding your interest.”
According to the site, to purchase an item, “simply fill out the contact information in the contact form and a Vault concierge will help you connect with the brand about purchasing the item.”
Robb Report’s Vault Online Gift Guide for $70,000 says: “The weekend begins with an invitation to an intimate Golden Eve Party, a private gathering with industry insiders. Awards night on January 11th. Take a seat at the official table inside the Golden Globes and enjoy the best seats and close proximity to Tinseltown’s biggest names.The ceremony will be followed by an after-party where the most famous people from the world of entertainment will meet. ”
The gift guide adds, “Even the souvenirs will be real: the ultimate Golden Globes gift bag, traditionally reserved for presenters and winners. Inside is a booklet hand-picked by Robb Report, allowing you to choose your favorite ultra-luxury experience, from five-star wellness retreats to rare collectible spirits. It’s going to be a red carpet weekend that money usually can’t buy.”
Plus, your money will also include “accommodations at the Peninsula Beverly Hills…including professional styling for the main event, with Tom Sweeney dressing the men in bespoke suits for the red carpet.”
As of Sunday night, there were still three out of three tickets remaining, and no buyers appeared to have acquired tickets.
The gift guide summarizes that purchasers will receive “red carpet appearances and celebrity meet-and-greets, a Golden Eve party with industry insiders, premier table seating at the Golden Globes, and a star-studded afterparty,” as well as “VIP access to the Golden Globes, custom styling with Tom Sweeney, admission to the Golden Eve party and afterparty, and the ultimate expertly-curated gift bag.”
The awards became a for-profit organization when Penske took over the show from the nonprofit Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Last year, the award’s official gift bag was valued at $1 million.
Penske Media owns mini-monopolies on entertainment sites and publications such as Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Indiewire, Deadline, and Rolling Stone.
Last year, rival sites The Wrap and Anclar reported that Penske-owned Variety was selling studios for the Golden Globe Salon Dinner Series for $70,000 per event, according to sales documents it allegedly obtained.
However, a Penske representative responded to The Wrap at the time, saying, “This is an exploited deck, uncirculated, and published by a competing website depicting journalistic intent for the purpose of misleading and misinforming.”
Page Six exclusively revealed that media members are furious about the Golden Globes’ new Best Podcast category, calling it Penske Media’s “racquet” rather than innovation.
One official claimed that the new category was “really just a vehicle” to send Penske award show campaign ads to Penske retailers, with Penske’s company Luminate determining eligibility and deeming the top 25 shows eligible.
A spokesperson said last month: “The podcast and entertainment industries continue to be extremely excited about the inaugural Golden Globe Podcast Awards, with nearly all nominees applying to be recognized for their outstanding work.”
