Throughout her time in Hollywood, Whoopi Goldberg has done some amazing things. She once forged a bond with Patrick Swayze in a relationship that spanned decades. Then she auditioned (and nabbed the part) with Steven Spielberg, setting off a string of high-profile projects. Plus, Goldberg raised her daughter as a single mom.
Of all her accomplishments, Goldberg hasn't been officially recognized for most. But she did receive an Oscar for that supporting role in 'Ghost' with Patrick and Demi Moore, though the story doesn't end happily there.
What Happened To Whoopi Goldberg's Oscar Statue?
Whoopi received her Oscar in 1990, so by 2002, it was probably a bit dusty. At least, Goldberg thought it was dirty enough to need a cleaning, according to news sources. She boxed up the award and returned it to the Academy for cleaning, per AP News.
The Academy, which used UPS to ship its parcels, received the Oscar from Whoopi. The next step was to ship the package to the manufacturer of the statues. Per news sources, the Academy boxed up Oscar and sent him on his way; he never made it. The box, however, did arrive -- empty, but resealed.
All of this happened on a Friday, and no one knows what really happened. But per the Academy, the package was tampered with in a UPS shipping container.
So who were the thieves, and why did they kidnap Oscar?
Where Is Whoopi Goldberg's Oscar Statue Now?
No one ever found out why thieves removed Whoopi Goldberg's Oscar from its package, then carefully resealed the box. They did, however, recover the statue not long after it went missing.
Goldberg's spokesman later revealed that the Oscar was found at an Ontario, California airport. In a strange twist, it wound up in the trash.
No further information was ever found out about who took the award, or what they planned to do with it. In the past, other Oscars have been auctioned off (or at least, auctions have been attempted).
Given that the statue bore Whoopi's name, it would've been tough to hand off, said Academy staff, but that doesn't mean some criminal didn't want it for other nefarious reasons.
Luckily, the statue made it home -- and Whoopi said she would never let it leave her house again.
How Much Is An Oscar Statue Worth?
Though much is made over celebrities receiving Oscars for their acting, the statues themselves aren't that expensive. They're made of bronze with gold plating, which is arguably somewhat valuable at about $650, says News10.
But as of 1951, actors who received Oscars weren't allowed to sell them. In fact, if Whoopi wanted to sell her statue, she could only sell it to the Academy -- and only for a single dollar.
That doesn't mean thieves wouldn't attempt to auction the statue, but it wouldn't be easy for them to cash out.