10 Unusual Instances of Celebrity Body Part Insurance

When discussing insurance, the things which immediately come to mind are cars, homes and businesses. However the staid world of insurance has a most interesting sub-category – body part insurance. This is done mostly by film stars, singers and sportspersons invest huge sums of money to get body parts insured because it is considered an additional risk management measure. For instance former football star turned model and entrepreneur David Beckham of England has a $70 million insurance with Lloyd’s covers all knee and ankle injuries while rocker Bruce Springsteen’s voice is insured with Lloyd’s for $6 million. Even though these instances of insurance make business sense, some are extra-ordinary and perhaps even bizarre. Here are ten unusual instances of body part insurance hammered out by celebrities and their lawyers.

1. Mariah Carey’s legs
   
   Pop star Mariah Carey is believed to have insured her legs for a whopping $1 billion¹, though the amount isn't confirmed1. Little wonder considering she is one of the top richest female singers in the world with an estimated net worth $750 million. Mariah Carey juggles the multiple roles of singer, songwriter, actress and record producer with consummate ease. Her best-selling albums including Music Box, Merry Christmas, Daydream, Butterfly, Rainbow, The Emancipation Of Mimi and more recently Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel and Merry Christmas II are responsible for making her the world’s third best-selling female artist according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
    
2. Jennifer Lopez’s butt
   
   Jennifer Lopez is another music star who is noted for her body part insurance deal. Apparently her butt is covered for $27 million. Popularly known as J Lo, she is a singer, dancer, actress and now a philanthropist too. Even though she started her showbiz career with movies like Selena and Out Of Sight, she has been active as a singer and dancer coming out with albums like Love, J.Lo, This Is Me... Then, On The 6, Brave, Rebirth and Let's Get Loud.
    
3. America Ferrera’s smile
   
   American actress America Ferrera, best remembered for her role in the hit American TV series Ugly Betty is known to have insured her smile for a staggering $10 million². Even though the look is billed as ‘ugly’ in the comic-drama TV series, it seems to be precious enough in the business sense for Ferrera’s sponsor Aquafresh to have got her and smile insured for a seven figure sum. The organization provides free dental care to women who are making a transition from public assistance to the workforce
   

   

4. Daniel Craig’s body
   
   Bond star Daniel Craig has a multi-million dollar insurance policy to protect against losses to his body. The amount was $9.5 million³ way back in 2006 when he started doing his own stunts for his first James Bond movie, "Casino Royale,”. Craig took out the policy due to the risks involved in the stunt work. The actor continued to perform his own stunts for the 2008 bond movie, "Quantum Of Solace," and has been signed for three more Bond films, the last of which is slated for a 2014 release. The British actor with the breathtaking physique has endeared himself to worldwide Bond fans, after initial complaints about being blonde and asking for beer instead of the character’s signature vodka martini. However now the highest-paid Bond star has been critically acclaimed for bringing a mix of physical strength and emotional vulnerability to the character.
    
5. Tome Jone’s chest hair
   
   Singer Tom Jones is believed to have insured his chest hair for $7 million⁴. Though the report has never been confirmed by the 67-year-old crooner's management, media reports have confirmed the policy was taken out with the world-renowned Lloyd’s of London since the prestigious insurance house has a history of catering to strange celebrity requests.
    
6. Dolly Parton’s breasts
   
   While country singer dolly Parton is well-known for her music, equally famous are her ‘twin assets’, something which she ensured would remain covered in the monetary sense as well. Parton’s is believed to have insured her 42-inch breasts for$60,000, which means each breast insured for $300,000. In a long career, spanning more than fifty years, she has composed over 3,000 songs, the best known of which include "I Will Always Love You" "Jolene", "Coat Of Many Colors","9 To 5", and "My Tennessee Mountain Home". Parton is one of the most successful female country artists of all time and with an estimated 100 million in album sales, she is also one of the best selling artists of all time in any genre.
    
7. Keith Richards’ hands
   
   The Rolling Stones' iconic singer and guitarist Keith Richards is believed to have insured his hands for around $1.6 million. Since those fingers have played some of the best rock and roll songs of the band on the guitar, the policy may well seem justified until one wonders at the way Keith has abused the rest of his body over the years through drugs and alcohol. Despite all, Richards will always be feted as the founding member and leading guitarist of Rolling Stones – one of the bands with the longest reign of popularity across the world.
    
8. Roth’s sperm
   
   The most unusual insurance however has to be Van Halen singer David lee Roth’s. In 1981, Roth insured his sperm for $1 million⁵. While the reason for this bizarre move has flummoxed most, legal experts say this was a forward-thinking move, warding against any possible paternity suits.
    
9. Merv Hughes’ moustache
   
   Australian cricketer Merv Hughes insured his trademark moustache for $317,0006 during his cricketing days as a member of the Australian national team. . While the right-arm fast bowler is justly famous for his bowling prowess, on the field he was more easily spotted by his bristly handlebar moustache. Apart from being a fierce competitor on the field, Hughes may be remembered most for his legendary drinking talents and some of the manliest facial hair of all time.
    
10. Polamalu’s hair
    
    The Guinness book of world record says that the world’s highest insured hair belongs to Troy Polamalu – American football star who plays for Pittsburgh Steelers. While the Polamalu is known for his hard-hitting play, he is even more famous for his black, flowing hair. After Procter & Gamble signed on Polamalu in 2010 to endorse its Head & Shoulders Shampoo, the company took out a one million dollar insurance policy with Lloyd’s to protect against hair loss7. The policy, which will pay out if Polamalu sustains losses to more than 60 per cent of his hair in an accident, specifies that the football player cannot engage in fire breathing or climb Mount Everest.
    
    Troy Aumua Polamalu was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft. Polamalu is well-regarded for his strong diving play on the field, which helped him earn the 2010 NFL defensive player of the year award.

References:

1. Mail Online India - Vanity insanity of stars patenting their body parts: The global showbiz fad seems to be now trickling into Bollywood
    
2. ABC News - How Much Are Dolly Parton's Breasts Worth?
    
3. Canada MSN Money - Weird insurance policies - Daniel Craig
    
4. Daily News - Report: Tom Jones has chest hair insured
    
5. The Independent - $1billion legs - celebrity insurance policies
    
6. Time Lists - Top 10 Oddly Insured Body Parts
    
7. Canada MSN Money - Weird insurance policies – Polamalu