Bidens got priciest gift from Modi in 2023 — a $20,000 diamond
1. President Biden also received a number of expensive presents, including commemorative photo album valued at $7,100
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden and his family received tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from foreign leaders in 2023, according to an annual report published by the State Department on Thursday. The single most expensive gift was a $20,000 diamond presented to First Lady Jill Biden by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The 7.5-carat diamond was the costliest gift given to any member of the first family last year. Jill Biden also received a brooch worth $14,063 from the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States and a set comprising a bracelet, brooch, and photograph album valued at $4,510 from the president and first lady of Egypt.
President Biden was also the recipient of several high-value items, including a $7,100 commemorative photo album from South Korea’s recently impeached President Suk Yeol Yoon, a $3,495 statue of Mongolian warriors from Mongolia’s prime minister, a $3,300 silver bowl from the Sultan of Brunei, a $3,160 sterling silver tray from Israel’s president, and a $2,400 collage from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Handling of the Gifts
Under federal law, executive branch officials must declare gifts from foreign leaders valued at more than $480. While most high-value items are transferred to the National Archives or placed on official display, the $20,000 diamond is currently being retained for official use in the White House East Wing, per the State Department. Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesperson for Jill Biden, stated that the diamond will be turned over to the archives after the Bidens leave the White House, though its current use was not disclosed.
Recipients may also purchase gifts at their market value, but such occurrences are rare, particularly with expensive items.
Gifts to U.S. Intelligence Officials
The report also highlights lavish gifts received by CIA officials, many of which were destroyed. CIA Director William Burns received an $18,000 astrograph — a telescope and astrological camera — from an undisclosed foreign source, which is being transferred to the General Services Administration. Burns also received and destroyed an $11,000 Omega watch.
Other CIA employees, whose names were not disclosed, reported receiving luxury watches, jewelry, and perfumes. Among the destroyed items were a $65,100 set of Omega watches and jewelry, a $30,000 women’s jewelry set from Libyan jeweler Al Grew, and multiple Rolex watches valued between $7,450 and $18,700. A $10,670 collection of Amouage perfume awaits destruction.
Other Notable Gifts
Indian officials gifted items made in Kashmir to a U.S. intelligence officer. Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval presented a silver statue to U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in January 2023 and a wooden elephant statue in July 2023.
In addition, Pakistani officials presented carpets as gifts: a $600 carpet was given to senior U.S. director Eileen Lubbaker by Pakistani Ambassador Masood Khan in 2023, following a $525 carpet gifted to President Biden by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in 2022.
