WASHINGTON, DC, USA – President Joe Biden and his family received gifts valued at tens of thousands of dollars from foreign leaders in 2023, according to an annual report published by the U.S. State Department on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
The most expensive gift—a 7.5-carat diamond valued at $20,000—was given to First Lady Jill Biden by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The State Department’s Office of Protocol, which compiles an annual accounting of gifts received by executive branch officials, disclosed the details as part of its submission to the Federal Register.
Under federal law, gifts exceeding $480 in value must be reported, and many of these items are transferred to the National Archives or used for official purposes.
Extravagant Gifts for the First Family
First Lady Jill Biden’s $20,000 diamond, retained for official use in the White House East Wing, topped the list of costly gifts.
She also received a brooch worth $14,063 from Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. and a bracelet, brooch, and photograph album valued at $4,510 from Egypt’s president and first lady.
President Biden was also the recipient of numerous valuable items:
- A $7,100 commemorative photo album from South Korea’s then-president Yoon Suk Yeol, impeached later in 2023.
- 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 Israel’s president.
- A $2,400 collage from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
While most gifts are transferred to the National Archives, recipients have the option to purchase them at market value—a rare occurrence, particularly for high-value items.
Gifts to U.S. Officials
Beyond the first family, other U.S. officials reported receiving extravagant items.
CIA Director William Burns received an $18,000 astrograph—a combination telescope and astrological camera—from an undisclosed foreign source.
The astrograph is being transferred to the General Services Administration.
Burns also reported destroying an $11,000 Omega watch, a common practice for CIA personnel who received high-value gifts such as luxury timepieces, perfume, and jewelry.
According to the report, over $132,000 worth of such items were destroyed to avoid conflicts of interest or undue influence.
The Legal Framework for Gifts
Under federal law, executive branch officials must report gifts valued at more than $480.
While modest gifts are not uncommon, high-value items are typically transferred to the National Archives or used for official purposes.
In some cases, recipients opt to destroy gifts to ensure compliance with federal ethics regulations.
The report highlights the delicate balance U.S. officials must maintain when accepting gifts from foreign leaders, ensuring transparency while avoiding the perception of impropriety.
Retained Items and Transparency
The diamond gifted to Jill Biden stands out as one of the few high-value items retained for official use, underscoring its symbolic and diplomatic significance.
However, the majority of gifts received by the Bidens and other U.S. officials were transferred to federal agencies or destroyed, reflecting the administration’s adherence to federal regulations.
As the report goes public, it sheds light on the often-overlooked intricacies of diplomatic exchanges and the high-value tokens of goodwill that underscore international relations.
