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Living

Prince of a Fellow

by

Always thankful for all the good things the Bushes have done for Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz was in an expansive mood last year. According to the State Department protocol office, he dumped well over $100,000 worth of fine jewelry on the Bushes and their aides.

Among the gifts:

  • For Laura Bush: a matching set of diamond-and-sapphire earrings, bracelet, and necklace, worth $95,000.

  • For George W.: a $8,500 mantel clock “elaborately detailed in silver and gold vermeil.”

  • For daughters Jenna and Barbara: Bulgari necklaces made of pearl and diamonds and of black onyx and diamonds, valued together at $16,500.

  • For Chief of Staff Andrew Card and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice: two gold-and-silver ceremonial daggers, worth $3,000 together.

  • For Stephen Hadley, Rice’s deputy: a $3,000 sculpture of a horse.

  • For Colin Powell: a $1,500 ivory-and-gold letter opener.

    • According to law, each of these gifts went to the National Archives.