What is written on the bottom of the Emmy - including what happens to it when you die

It was a historic night at the 2025 Emmy Awards with Adolescence actor Owen Cooper becoming the youngest male to ever win in the acting category.

The British Netflix drama swept the board at the US ceremony - picking up a total of eight awards, including gongs for writer Stephen Grahamand actress Erin Doherty.

The trio were among the big names to seize the gold Emmy statuette with pride and hold them aloft for the series of obligatory photos. When the trophies were lifted up high, fans couldn't help but spot a lengthy inscription adoring the base.

It turns out the statuettes contain a lot of rules and disclaimers for the winners to observe - including what happens to them when you died.

As seen in the photo below, the following rules appear on the bottom of the Emmys statuettes and read as follows:

READ MORE: Emmy winner Owen Cooper's life away from Adolescence role as he makes history

The Emmy® statuette is the property of and all rights are reserved by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences ("Academies").

The Emmy® statuette may not be reproduced or used in any commercial manner unless otherwise permitted by the Academies, it being understood that possession of the same is solely for the benefit of the recipient and the recipient's heirs or successors in interest.

If a recipient or the recipient's heir or successor in interest proposes to sell or otherwise dispose of the Emmy® statuette, such persons shall be obligated to return the statuette to the Academy from which received, which will retain the same in storage in memory of the recipient.

On Sunday night, as history maker Owen Cooper picked up his award he told the audience at the 77th Emmy Awards that he was “nothing” just three years ago.

“Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind here,” the English actor said in his acceptance speech.

“But I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life.”

Hollywood stars arrived at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday night for the ceremony, hosted by US comedian Nate Bargatze.

“It says my name on the statue, but it really belongs to all of the people who worked on the show,” Cooper said.

Co-stars Erin Doherty won best supporting actress in a limited series, dedicating the award to her older sister and Stephen Graham picked up the award for lead actor in a limited series.

“I’m just a mixed-race kid from a block of flats in a place called Kirkby,” Graham told the audience.

“So, for me to be here today in front of my peers and to be acknowledged by you is the utmost humbling thing I could ever imagine in my life, and it shows you that any dream is possible.”

Severance was nominated 27 times, while crime drama mini-series The Penguin had 24 nominations and Adolescence received 13.

The British drama, which dominated Netflix’s most-watched list earlier this year, centres on the story of a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a classmate.

Adolescence director Philip Barantini took home the Emmy for outstanding directing for a limited or anthology series or movie, while writers Jack Thorne and lead actor Graham won for outstanding writing in the same category.

“To Netflix, thank you for trusting us with this mad idea,” Barantini said while accepting his award.

Adolescence also took home the gong for best limited or anthology series.

The night’s other major winners included Seth Rogen’s The Studio, which took home awards for best directing, best comedy series, best writing and outstanding actor in a comedy series.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver picked up two awards for variety series and outstanding scripted variety series.

Severance star Tramell Tillman made history as the first black man to win the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series, while his co-star Britt Lower won the award for outstanding lead actress in the same category.

The Pitt won best drama series, with its stars Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa taking home awards for outstanding lead actor and supporting actress, respectively.

In his opening address, host Bargatze announced that he would donate 100,000 dollars (£73,752) to the Boys and Girls Club of America.

But if speeches ran for more than 45 seconds, he deducted 1000 dollars (£737) from the total amount being donated, while speeches under the time limit would add more money to the total.

“I know, it’s brutal,” he said. “This is a game I’ve made up and these are rules.”

But with the speeches running over, the donation limit went “way down”, Bargatze told the crowd in his closing monologue.

“The number, I’ll be honest, it was embarrassing. It went way down. And I don’t know, I can’t imagine ever doing this again,” host Nate Bargatze said.

“So CBS is going to add 100,000 dollars (£73,752). I will give 250,000 dollars (£185,000). It takes us to 350,000 dollars (£259,000) to the Boys & Girls Club.”

Dame Maggie Smith, musicians Ozzy Osbourne and Quincy Jones, Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg and director David Lynch were among the famous faces honoured in an In Memoriam slideshow.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which was controversially cancelled earlier this year, won the award for outstanding talk series.

“And that’s related to love, because sometimes you only truly know how much you love something when you get a sense that you might be losing it,” Colbert told the crowd, who kicked off his speech to cheers of “Stephen” from his team onstage.

“Ten years later, in September of 2025, my friends, I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America. Stay strong. Be brave, and if the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy and punch a higher floor.”