According to an annual accounting published by the State Department on Thursday, US President Joe Biden and his family received tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from foreign leaders 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. 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.

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.