In 1999, Sierra Leone in Africa was plunged into the turmoil of civil war. Solomon (Djimon Hounsou), an ordinary fisherman, was forced to work for a diamond mine. By chance, while washing the stones he had found in a mountain stream, Solomon discovered a beautiful stone - a rare pink diamond in the world. It could not only help his family, but also rescue his wife and daughter who have become refugees, and save his beloved son Dia who has been captured and forced to be a child soldier. Therefore, despite the risk of death, Solomon hid the diamond at all costs.
Danny (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a smuggler who makes a living from illegal diamond and weapons trading. He learned about Solomon's diamond while being imprisoned for smuggling. He knows that such a rare diamond is invaluable, which can help him escape from Africa and break away from the vicious circle of violence and corruption. With the help of Mandy (Jennifer Connelly), an American idealistic female journalist investigating the complex secrets behind the diamond industry, the three began a long escape through the war-torn areas.