First Lady Jill Biden received the priciest gift from a foreign leader in 2023—an exquisite $20,000 diamond from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to an annual report released by the State Department on Thursday.
The 7.5-carat diamond, which stands out as the most expensive gift to any member of the Biden family that year, was not the only luxury item she received. She also obtained a brooch worth $14,063 from the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. and a bracelet, brooch, and a photograph album valued at $4,510 from Egypt’s president and first lady.
President Joe Biden himself received several notable gifts, including a $7,100 commemorative photo album from South Korea’s recently impeached President Suk Yeol Yoon and a $3,495 statue of Mongolian warriors from the Mongolian prime minister. Additional gifts included a $3,300 silver bowl from Brunei’s sultan, a $3,160 sterling silver tray from Israel’s president, and a $2,400 collage from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Under federal law, officials in the executive branch are required to declare gifts worth more than $480 received from foreign leaders. While many gifts at or above this threshold are modest, the more expensive ones are commonly transferred to the National Archives or displayed officially.
The $20,000 diamond will be kept for official use in the White House East Wing, and a spokesperson for Jill Biden confirmed that it will be handed over to the archives after they leave office, though its current purpose in the East Wing remains unspecified.
Recipients of valuable gifts also have the option to purchase them from the U.S. government at market value, though this is uncommon, especially with high-end items.
The State Department’s Office of Protocol, which compiles this information for publication, noted that several CIA employees reported receiving lavish gifts, including luxury watches, perfume, and jewelry, most of which were destroyed. Altogether, the destroyed gifts were valued at over $132,000.
CIA Director William Burns was presented with an $18,000 astrograph (telescope and astrological camera) from a classified foreign source, which is being transferred to the General Services Administration. However, Burns also reported an $11,000 Omega watch that was destroyed, along with numerous luxury timepieces reported by other employees.
Junior CIA employees remain anonymous, but one reported an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch, a ladies Omega Constellation watch, a diamond necklace, earrings, a bracelet, and a ring together worth $65,100, all of which were destroyed.
Additionally, a $30,000 jewelry set from Libyan jeweler Al Grew and other high-value watches were also reported destroyed. Another employee noted receiving a collection of expensive Amouage Perfume valued at $10,670, pending further action on its destruction, according to the report.
Credit: NBC News
