PM Modi's $20,000 diamond to Jill Biden becomes the most expensive gift White House received in 2023

US President Joe Biden’s wife and First Lady Dr Jill Biden received a $20,000 diamond from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023 along with several other gifts from foreign leaders. On Thursday, the US State Department published an annual accounting of all the gifts Bidens received from international dignitaries in 2023. The diamond, Jill received from PM Modi was the single most expensive present from any world leader in 2023.

According to the State Department, it was a 7.5-carat diamond, which the first lady received when the Prime Minister visited the United States. The second costly gift on the list was a brooch valued at $14,063 from the Ukrainian ambassador to the US. Third on the list was another bracelet, brooch and photograph album worth $4,510 from the president and first lady of Egypt.

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Meanwhile, the POTUS also received several valuable presents from world leaders. This includes a commemorative photo album valued at $7,100 from South Korea’s recently impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, a $3,495 statue of Mongolian warriors from the Mongolian prime minister, a $3,300 silver bowl from the Sultan of Brunei, a $3,160 sterling silver tray from the president of Israel and a collage worth $2,400 from the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

What happened to the diamond

It is pertinent to note that the US Federal law requires the executive branch to declare gifts they receive from foreign leaders and counterparts that have an estimated value of more than $480. While most of the gifts are usually modes, the more expensive ones are usually transferred to the National Archives or put on official displays.

As per the State Department’s statement, the $20,000 diamond presented by PM Modi was retained for official use in the White House East Wing, while the other gifts to the First Family were sent to the archives. As per federal law, the recipients of the gifts also have the option to buy the presents from the US government at their market value, although it is quite rare to do so, especially with expensive items.

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Meanwhile, several employees of the CIA also reported receiving lavish gifts, such as watches, perfumes, and jewellery, nearly all of which had to be destroyed as per federal law. Of the gifts destroyed, they were worth more than $132,000 combined, the State Department said in the listing.

According to the filings, CIA Director William Burns received a $18,000 astrograph, which is a telescope and astrological camera, from a foreign source whose identity is classified. The gift was transferred to the General Services Administration. Burns was also reported receiving and destroying an $11,000 Omega watch, while numerous others did the same with luxury timepieces.