Jill Biden Receives $20,000 Diamond From PM Modi, Most Expensive Gift From Any Foreign Leader

President Joe Biden and his family received numerous valuable gifts from foreign leaders in 2023. The State Department's annual report, released on Thursday, highlighted these gifts.

First Lady Jill Biden was given the most expensive item: a USD 20,000 diamond from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This 7.5-carat diamond was the priciest gift to the first family that year.

Photo Credit: PTI

Jill Biden also received other notable presents. The Ukrainian ambassador to the United States gifted her a brooch worth USD 14,063. Additionally, the president and first lady of Egypt presented her with a bracelet, brooch, and photograph album valued at USD 4,510. These gifts were part of the annual accounting of presents received by U.S. officials.

Gifts to President Biden

President Biden himself received several costly items. South Korea's recently impeached President Suk Yeol Yoon gave him a commemorative photo album valued at USD 7,100. Other gifts included a USD 3,495 statue of Mongolian warriors from Mongolia's prime minister and a USD 3,300 silver bowl from Brunei's sultan.

The president also received a USD 3,160 sterling silver tray from Israel's president and a collage worth USD 2,400 from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These gifts are required by federal law to be declared if they exceed an estimated value of USD 480.

Handling of Gifts

Most high-value gifts are transferred to the National Archives or displayed officially. However, the USD 20,000 diamond was retained for official use in the White House East Wing. The first lady’s office did not comment on its specific use. Recipients can purchase gifts at market value from the U.S. government, but this is uncommon for expensive items.

The State Department's Office of Protocol compiles these lists annually for publication in the Federal Register. Several CIA employees reported receiving lavish gifts such as watches and jewellery, most of which were destroyed due to their high value.

CIA Gift Reports

CIA Director William Burns received an astrograph worth USD 18,000 from an undisclosed foreign source; it is being transferred to the General Services Administration. Burns also reported receiving and destroying an Omega watch valued at USD 11,000.

Other CIA employees reported receiving luxury watches and jewellery worth over USD 132,000 combined. These included an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch and a ladies Omega Constellation watch along with diamond jewellery valued at USD 65,100—all destroyed.

A women's jewellery set worth USD 30,000 from Libyan jeweller Al Grew was also destroyed after being received by another CIA employee. Additional reports included Rolex watches valued between USD 7,450 and USD 18,700; all were destroyed as per protocol.

A collection of Amouage Perfume worth USD 10,670 was reported by another employee; its destruction is pending according to the report.