We knew that Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni were a swanky couple with expensive tastes. In fact, when Sarkozy was in office as president of France, he and his wife often took heat for their extravagant ways, with President Sarkozy even earning the nickname "The Bling-Bling President." As it turns out, the couple was also very generous... and shared their love of luxury goods with the Obamas.
According to a new list released by the State Department today, President Obama received about $40,000 worth of gifts from then-President Sarkozy and Carla Bruni in 2011. So what was included in the massive haul? Here's a taste:
January 2011: An Hermes golf accessory bag. Estimated value: $7,750.00.
May 2011: An Hermes orange cotton canvas travel case; a Hermes cotton terrycloth beach towel; a handmade Forge de Laguiole letter opener in a brown leather case; a "special G8 edition" box; and a box of chocolates. Estimated value: $1,994.24.
May 2011: A Lacoste white men's polo shirt; a limited-edition "HOPE" fountain pen and Ligne 8 lighter from S.T. Dupont; Dupont black and silver fountain pen; Christian Drouin Pays d'Auge AOC cider; six black glass goblets; and a blue-gray glass sculpture of Bucephalus, Alexander the Great's horse. Estimated value: $15,083.62.
August 2011: Two crystal golf statuettes by Baccarat; and a black Hermes golf travel bag. Estimated value: $1,650.00.
November 2011: A reusable grocery/tote bag; three books; a Lancel leather folding toiletry bag; a 200 Euro souvenir “G20” coin; a silver watch made by B.R.M.; a Lancel leather woman's wallet with embroidery; a Lancel leather "Gra-Valise Petit Voyage" suitcase; a Lancel brown and orange leather purse; a Christian Dior leather clutch; a Plexiglass Tootsie Roll statue; a box of Duroc Danner chocolates; perfumes from the town of Grasse; Chateau d'Estoublon olive oil; men's Dior hygiene products; and "His and hers" belted Dior bathrobes with "Dior" embroidered on the breast pocket. Estimated value: $6,191.00.
December 2011: A black leather "Neo Igor" Louis Vuitton men's business bag embossed with "B.O." Estimated value: $2,310.00.
The report also notes that Michelle Obama and the First Family (i.e. Sasha and Malia) got their own gifts, including clothes from Bonpoint Paris, pricey soaps from Frederic Malle and more Baccarat crystal.
According to the government doc, the gifts were accepted because "non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government." But we can't help note that they are also really awesome gifts. A little over the top, of course, but the Bruni-Sarkozys sure do know their French designers. Remember what a huge Dior fan Carla was (before she entered her current schlumpy phase)?
Do you think the swag is all too extravagant? And are you as jealous as we are? Let us know in the comments, and check out the full list of POTUS gifts at FederalRegister.gov.
FLOTUS does hang with a pretty A-list crew:
