Weird celebrity insurance policies
Are the stars pulling our legs, or are their body parts at special risk? Here's a look at some of the unlikely anatomical assets celebrities got covered.
With their paparazzi, bodyguards, mansions and private jets, celebrities live unconventional lives. And you can add one more thing to the list: absurd insurance policies with megabuck payout plans. These are not like typical insurance plans covering your house, car or other valuables. For insurance companies guaranteeing celebrity body parts for sky-high sums of money, the risk is high.
But insurance giant Lloyd's of London is famous for taking on big-digit celebrity policies over the years, including insurance on the legs of dancer Fred Astaire and a finger of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.
Gene Simmons, bassist for the iconic late-'70s band Kiss, added his own signature move -- sticking out his extra-long tongue to the band's widely recognizable stage presence featuring black-and-white face paint and distinctive jumpsuits.Simmons' tongue, which is said to have been surgically enhanced, was reportedly insured when Kiss was at its peak.
Many appearance-conscious men are looking to wax or trim their wayward hair, but pop singer Tom Jones must think a little fuzz is critical to his status as a sex symbol. In 2008, the New York Daily News and several other media outlets reported that Jones had his chest hair insured reportedly for millions.Other sources, however, say it isn't true.
Dolly Parton 'bust'
Country music legend Dolly Parton, who is almost as well-known for her curvy figure as for her singing and acting, reportedly has insured her 42-inch bust .That's pretty good money for a woman who grew up in poverty in an isolated corner of the Great Smoky Mountains
Keith Richards 'middle finger'
Several media sources have reported that Keith Richards, the legendarily hard-living guitarist for the Rolling Stones, has insured the middle finger on his left hand
David Lee Roth 'sperm'
Going a step beyond the idea of insuring body parts, David Lee Roth, the former lead singer of the rock group Van Halen, decided to put a premium on his sperm with an insurance policy , according to The Independent, a British newspaper. Some say this was a forward-thinking move, guarding against possible paternity suits.
Coverage without the cost
It's not always the celebrity who foots the bill. Instead, the insurance policy is often covered by an entertainment company or endorser. For example, Procter & Gamble has an insurance policy on the long, wavy tresses of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu because the NFL great is the face of the company's shampoo product.
Likewise, Aquafresh toothpaste has insured the teeth of "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera for millions, making her a poster child for the pearly white smile. Insiders speculate that insuring body parts is a way for a company to get media attention for a celebrity or ignite attention for a brand -- and to increase the overall dollar value of a highly profitable star.
Shirley MacLaine vs. the aliens
OK, so it's not a body part, but it's too wacky not to mention. Storied actress Shirley MacLaine is the owner of one of the most bizarre insurance policies in Hollywood, reports Parade magazine. According to that publication, MacLaine, who has been outspoken about believing in reincarnation and extraterrestrial life, owns a multimillion-dollar policy protecting her acting fortune against an alien abduction. In fact, more than 20,000 people in the United States have forked over insurance money to cover themselves in the event of an alien abduction.
U2 frontman Bono's recent back injury has cost his insurance company £11million, according to a report.
Brokers Robertson Taylor are expected to settle the bill after Bono injured his back during rehearsals, reports The Sun.
The star was forced to undergo emergency surgery in May, prompting U2 to postpone their North American tour and cancel their appearance at Glastonbury.
Bono said recently that the injury had been “quite serious”, but that he was on the road to recovery.
As previously reported on Gigwise, U2 have rescheduled their postponed US dates for next spring and summer.
