In 2023, First Lady Jill Biden received the most expensive gift of the year—a $20,000 diamond—presented by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his official state visit to the United States. The 7.5-carat green diamond, which is eco-friendly and lab-grown, mimics the properties of earth-mined diamonds. It was housed in a unique paper pulp box, called “kar-e-kalamdani.”
Aside from the diamond, Jill Biden was also presented with a brooch worth $14,063 by the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., along with a bracelet, brooch, and photo album valued at $4,510 by the president and first lady of Egypt.
The $20,000 diamond was kept for official use in the White House East Wing but is expected to be turned over to the National Archives once the Bidens leave office, as required by federal law. Gifts from foreign officials exceeding $480 in value must be declared and often transferred to the National Archives or displayed in official settings.
A spokesperson for Jill Biden confirmed that the diamond would eventually be archived. Meanwhile, some critics expressed discontent on social media, questioning the use of taxpayer money for such a lavish gift.
