The price of gold is at an all-time high right now, so that pushed up the cost of the golden statues since last year's Academy Awards. It's actually made from pewter plated in layers of copper, nickel, silver, and gold, but the cost of gold alone has significantly bumped up the expense in making the awards. Marion Cotillard [1], Tilda Swinton [2], and co. were doing some decent lifting last night — their Oscars weigh eight and a half pounds.

Source [3]