Although most commonly associated with celebrities, body part insurance can offer crucial financial cover, and protect your livelihood if you rely on a specific part of your body to earn a living. Although uncommon, body part insurance is more popular than you might assume; performers (including musicians, singers and actors) as well as artists, surgeons, athletes and other sports people all commonly require this type of insurance. Body part insurance pays out financial compensation for any accidental damage or disfigurement caused to the insured body part, if the damage results in a loss of work.
From the most ‘normal’ types of body part insurance, such as cover for a model’s limbs, to the more bizarre kinds, including insurance for a sommelier’s taste buds, almost any body part can be insured if it can be proved that loss of use of this body part would lead to significant loss of work and income.
Body part insurance is usually relatively expensive; it is often bought by experts in their field, or celebrities: some of whom even use it as a promotional gimmick. However, it is not only celebrities who may need protection in case of disability or loss of use of a vital limb. Models for example, have a career based almost entirely on appearance, and could lose out on significant income if disability prevented them from winning future contracts. As a result, a model might insure several parts of their body, for example their legs and even their smile. Body part insurance is not designed to insure your whole body: it is intended to cover only select body parts. If you wish to insure your whole body it may be more suitable for you to take out a comprehensive life insurance policy instead.
The 10 biggest insurance policies stars have taken out on their body parts
10. David Lee Roth’s $1million (£670K) sperm
The Van Halen frontman would have surprised no-one if he’d spent money protecting his vocal chords.
But he turned heads in his band’s 80s heyday when he took out a $1million policy on his sperm.
Roth splashed out on his little swimmers to cover himself in the event he impregnated a groupie and, as a result, was hit with an expensive paternity suit.
And, if reports are to be believed, he went on to take full advantage of his cunning scheme – without fear of split condoms…
9. Keith Richards’ $1.6million (£1.1m) hands
In fairness, the Rolling Stones guitarist would definitely be out of a job if he lost his hands.
So it was a shrewd move on his part to protect his chord-playing appendages in the event of a hedge-trimming or tree-felling catastrophe.
The insurance package covers both hands and, when asked about the policy, he waved his arms and said: “These are my business.”
After all, he wouldn’t get much Satisfaction playing a guitar with no hands…
8. Heidi Klum’s $2.2million (£1.5m) legs
It makes sense that the German supermodel would insure the two things that enable her to walk up and down catwalks the world over.
Oddly, one of her pins is insured for $200,000 less than the other due to a scar on her knee.
She told The Sun: “They are different values because I have this little scar.
“I had to be examined in London. A guy came and inspected my leg.”
7. Dolly Parton’s $3.8million (£2.5m) boobs
Without doubt, country queen Parton has become as known for her gargantuan lady mountains as she has her singing voice.
Therefore, it made total sense when she took out a policy on her 40DD assets – realising she wouldn’t be who she is without them.
They were initially insured for $300,000 each but inflation (no pun intended) has caused their value to swell (again, no pun intended).
As well as enriching the pockets of her insurers, her bountiful boobs have helped to make Parton minted…
6. Rod Stewart’s $6million (£4m) voice
The ageing rocker wouldn’t be able to wake up Maggie or say anything to her if he lost his voice.
More importantly, his career as a singer would be over.
He was alerted to the merits of insurance after fearing his voice had been irreparably damaged following throat surgery in 2000.
Stewart is now protected to the cool tune of $6million in case his much-loved raspy vocals do a disappearing act.
5. Tom Jones’s $7million (£4.7m) chest hair
Granted, it’s not unusual to be loved by anyone.
But it’s downright bizarre to put a price tag on one’s bodily follicle growth.
That said, Welsh legend Tom thought his success was as much down to the forest spilling out of his open shirt as it was his warbling tones.
So he paid out on a $7million policy to cover losses of earnings if his chest hair spontaneously combusts…
4. Jennifer Lopez’s $27million (£18.1m) buttocks
J-Lo has made a name for herself as a star of both film and music – but she’s also much-admired for her bulging backside.
Fearing she’ll hit rock bottom if her peachy buttocks abandon her through injury or the merciless perils of nature, the singer/actress made financial arrangements to guarantee she wouldn’t be too down in the dumps if her worst nightmare came true.
Losing one’s bum cheeks isn’t a chief concern of many, but J-Lo clearly values her booty highly.
Well, $27million to be precise.
And the actress admitted she’s contemplating taking out an insurance policy on her famous assets.
While most ordinary folk limit their insurance expenditure to their homes, cars, travel and pets, it’s not uncommon for celebrities to splash out on their body parts.
Swathes of stars protect what they perceive to be the money-making features that, should they ever lose them, will put a huge dent in their earnings.
Hence why the likes of Rihanna and Jamie Lee Curtis took out policies worth $1million (£670,000) and $2.8million (£1.9m), respectively, to safeguard their legs.
The craze was kicked off by Hollywood star Betty Grable, who insured her pins in the 1940s for $1million.
Here’s a top ten rundown of the limbs, appendages, hair and bodily fluids that stars have forked out on – in reverse monetary order.
3. Michael Flatley’s $40million (£26.9m) feet
Irish super-hoofer Flatley would have faced a much greater challenge becoming the Lord Of The Dance without feet.
The 54-year-old has made a career out of his speedy trotters and spent big to ensure he’d live comfortably – financially, at least – should his feet either fall off or stop working.
He’s not the kind of fella hapless female dancers would want to boogie with at a party.
One accidental misstep could cost the dancer his day job and push the perpetrator into bankruptcy…
2. David Beckham’s $70million (£47m) legs
Let’s face it, David Beckham wouldn’t have captained England or won countless accolades with no legs.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder took out what is thought to be the largest personal insurance policy in sports history in 2006.
It’s claimed Becks will receive the mammoth pay-out in the event of an injury to his legs, feet or toes that would force him into retirement.
The fact he’s a fan of riding motorbikes must send his premium soaring..
1. Mariah Carey’s $1billion (£670m) legs
The singer stumped up for her stumps after she was awarded Gillette’s Legs Of A Goddess prize.
Winning the award apparently awakened the pop diva to the popularity of her pins, and subsequently insured them for a bonkers $1billion.
Adding to the absurdity, Gillette commemorated Carey’s limbs victory by having a statue of her legs made.
Naturally, she sparked widespread bafflement with her financial arrangement – on the basis she could still shatter glass with her vocals without legs.
