The Obamas' gift windfall: By the numbers
Diamonds, pearls, gold watches, silk ties... and one $1,480 orange Dutch bike: Here's what foreign leaders gave the First Family in 2009
Foreign leaders were generous to President Obama and his family in 2009 — sometimes extremely generous — according to a State Department report on gifts to federal employees released on Tuesday. Sadly for the Obamas, they are legally barred from keeping the presents, most which have already been turned over to the National Archives. Nevertheless, the list of jewelry, ornaments, and knick knacks is pretty impressive. Here's a rundown of the Obamas' windfall, by the numbers (all gifts are to the president, unless otherwise noted):
$335
Value over which any gift had to be declared in 2009
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$132,000
Ruby and diamond jewelry set for the First Lady, from Saudi King Abdullah
33
Number of pearls on a $14,200 necklace for the First Lady, from King Abdullah
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$7,275
Diamond earring and necklace sets for Obama's daughters, Sasha and Malia, from King Abdullah
$331,620
Total value of gifts from King Abdullah to the Obamas and other U.S. officials
$75
Bottle of olive oil, from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
$48,000
Gold and diamond watch for Michelle Obama, from Ghana First Lady Ernestina Naadu Mills
$20,000
Silk embroidery portrait of the Obama family, from Chinese President Hu Jintao
$415
Wooden CD holder, 15 CDs, and one book, from Russian President Dmitri Medvedev
$415
Floral tea set, plus book, from German Prime Minister Angela Merkel
$16,510
Pen and holder carved from the wood of an anti-slavery ship, plus books, from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
$28,525
Crystal table, gold watch, silk ties, and glass ornaments, from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
$4,500
Black Christian Dior handbag for Michelle Obama, from French First Lady Carla Bruni Sarkozy
$3,820
Fountain pen, books, and bronze replica of Degas sculpture, from French President Nicholas Sarkozy
$7,905
Gilt-framed mosaic of St. Peter's Square, gold coin, silver keychain, and books, from Pope Benedict XVI
$1,480
Orange "Holland on the Hudson" bicycle, from Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende
$775
Framed photographs of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, from the Queen
Sources: AP, AFP, BBC News, ABC News, State Dept. (PDF)
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