We’re not sure what Prime Minister Stephen Harper gets his kids, Rachel and Ben, for Christmas, but let’s hope they fared better in 2011 than U.S. President Barack Obama, who received a basketball signed by the Toronto Raptors (23 wins to 43 losses). Harper’s gifts also included historic maps of North America. Total value: $1,880.
We’re not sure what Prime Minister Stephen Harper gets his kids, Rachel and Ben, for Christmas, but let’s hope they fared better in 2011 than U.S. President Barack Obama, who received a basketball signed by the Toronto Raptors (23 wins to 43 losses). Harper’s gifts also included historic maps of North America. Total value: $1,880.
All told, the President of the United States received $240,000 in gifts that year, according to data released this week, with most going to the National Archives.
The single most-expensive gift was a blue mask sculpture from the president of the tiny Gabonese Republic, Ali Bongo Ondimba, valued at $52,695. Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy lavished 16 gifts, including two Hermès golf bags and Baccarat crystal statuettes of golfers, totalling $41,675.71.