Winning an Oscar is an achievement like no other for any actor. It’s a moment they dream about for years.
But there’s this one rule they have to follow, and it’s not up for debate.
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An Oscar is a dream come true, but rules must be followed
At last night’s Oscars, Keiran Culkin and Mikey Madison took home awards, and Anora director Sean Baker made history by winning four Oscars in one night — for Best Editing, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture.
The ceremony follows the same routine every year. Nominees are called, a winner is announced, they walk up to the stage, get their trophy, and give a speech thanking the Academy, their families, and everyone who helped them along the way.
But after that? There’s a rule about what winners can and can’t do with their shiny new statue once they leave the stage.
Oscar winners cannot sell their statues
Not everyone knows this, but the Academy has strict rules about Oscar ownership.
According to the ‘regulations’ section on their website, winners are not allowed to sell their trophies unless they meet a very specific condition.
The Academy has strict control over Oscar ownership
No matter why someone might want to sell an Oscar, the Academy is clear about the rules:
“Award winners shall not sell or otherwise dispose of the Oscar statuette, nor permit it to be sold or disposed of by operation of law, without first offering to sell it to the Academy for the sum of $1.00.”
Yep, you read that right. Even though the Oscar is gold-plated, if a winner ever wants to sell it, they have to offer it back to the Academy for just one dollar.
And it doesn’t just apply to the original winner. The Academy also says: “This provision shall apply also to the heirs and assigns of Academy Award winners who may acquire a statuette by gift or bequest.”
The resale restriction has been in place for decades
This rule has been around since 1951, and over the years, it’s even led to legal battles when people ignored it.
Legal battles have arisen over Oscar sales
In 2014, Joseph Tutalo tried to auction off an Oscar that his uncle, Joseph Wright, won back in 1943. It sold for $79,200, but the Academy wasn’t having it.
They sued Tutalo and the auction house for breaking the rules. A California judge ended up siding with the Academy, and the person who bought the Oscar had to give it back.
There have been exceptions, but they are rare
Sometimes, though, the rule has been bent. A famous example? In 1999, Michael Jackson paid $1.5 million for the Best Picture Oscar that was awarded to producer David Selznick in 1939.
Selznick had passed away in 1965, but somehow, the Oscar ended up on the market.
Why would someone want to sell an Oscar?
You might be wondering — who would even want to sell an Oscar? These statues are some of the most prized awards in the world!
Well, it doesn’t happen often, but it’s possible. Some stars win so many awards that they literally run out of space to store them.
Others might want to sell one to raise money for a cause they care about.
Winners better think twice before selling their Oscars
Hopefully, none of last night’s winners are thinking about selling their Oscars anytime soon.
But if they are, they better check in with the Academy first!
Last Updated on March 3, 2025 by Reem Haqqi
