San Francisco

Atherton, Wealthiest Town In California, Sends Bill To White House For Obama Fundraising Trip

California's Richest Town Bills The White House For Obama Visit
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By 

Editor-in-Chief, Google Insider

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Ahh, Atherton. A quaint California enclave nestled in the hills of Silicon Valley.

The town boasts a rolodex of powerhouse inhabitants, including Charles Schwab, Eric Schmidt and Meg Whitman. The median home costs $4.9 million, and the average resident is worth $1.65 million. Its police blotter includes such delightful emergencies as a woman looking for her lost cat and a man wearing a black and white outfit at an odd hour.

Atherton is the wealthiest town in California, the second richest place in America and the nation's third most expensive zip code.

Which is why it makes perfect sense that, following a recent fundraising appearance by President Obama, town officials decided to bill both the White House and the Secret Service for their troubles.

According to CBS News, it cost nearly $8,000 to host the president in Atherton, mainly to cover the price of police and security details.

Obama visited the ritzy community on April 4, during which he stopped by a brunch and a luncheon to benefit the Democratic National Committee and famously called Kamala Harris "the best looking attorney general" in the country.

Which turned out to be a pretty priceless comment. So maybe the White House should just cut its losses and pay up.

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Before You Go

Obama In San Francisco
Cocktails at Tom Steyer's House(01 of05)
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First stop on the POTUS itinerary is a $5,000-a-head cocktail reception at the home of Kat Taylor and hedge fund manager turned environmental activist Tom Steyer. Potentially awkward moment: Steyer has been a vocal opponent of the Keystone XL pipeline which could make for some delicate conversation. (Read on.) (credit:Getty Images)
Dinner at the Gettys' (02 of05)
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After cocktails, Barack is getting down to business with a $32,500-per-person dinner party at the home of Ann and Gordon Getty. (credit:Getty Images)
Keystone XL Protest(03 of05)
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Aaaand it wouldn't be an Obama visit without a protest over the Keystone XL pipeline! Progressive group CREDO Action Network (who recently made headlines over a protest at Mark Zuckerberg's Chris Christie fundraiser) told The Huffington Post that more than 600 people have already pledged to join the protest. (credit:Alamy)
Silicon Valley Brunch(04 of05)
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While the details on the Silicon Valley events are still unfolding, CNN reports that the first will be a brunch for $32,400. (We hope it's not just continental!) (credit:Shutterstock)
Silicon Valley Lunch(05 of05)
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Details are even murkier on the Silicon Valley lunch, but CNN reports it will cost between $1000 and $20,000 per person, leaving no room for financial planning whatsoever. (credit:Getty Images)
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