Most people make sure to protect their valuable assets by purchasing insurance—and celebrities are no exception. For many celebrities, their most valuable assets are their bodies. That's where body-parts insurance comes in.
There are three types of body-parts insurance: insuring a physical attribute that drives earning power, such as a singer's voice; athletes who require coverage for a body part excluded from their disability insurance; and in some cases, a celebrity insures a body part purely for the media exposure.
From star athletes to movie stars, NU has assembled a partial list of celebs who have had their body parts insured. Click “next” to see the list.
Ben Turpin, a silent-movie star famous for his crossed eyes, could be the man who started the celebrity-insurance fad: In the 1920s he took out a $20,000 policy against his eyes uncrossing.
Betty Grable was the girl with the “million-dollar legs.” The actress, singer and dancer was said to have the most beautiful legs in Hollywood—and her studio had them insured for $1 million. Grable's iconic bathing suit photo (pictured here) made her the number-one pin-up girl in 1943.
Photo by Frank Powolny
Baseball player Mark McGwire had his problematic ankle insured in 1998 during his epic 70-home-run season with the St. Louis Cardinals. Medical details, including how the ankle was strapped and any anti-inflammatory medications taken, were reviewed before Lloyd's of London agreed to underwriter the policy.
(AP Photo/John Gaps III)
In 2004, supermodel Heidi Klum, host of “Project Runway,” had her legs insured by a client for $2.2 million. While Klum's right leg was deemed to be worth $1.2 million, her left leg was valued at slightly less ($1 million) due to a scar.
(AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
David Beckham, the English soccer star, had his legs insured in 2006 for a whopping $70 million. Beckham currently plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
Singer Mariah Carey insured her legs for $1 billion in 2006 after agreeing to take part in Gillette's “Legs Of A Goddess” campaign.
(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
America Ferrara, former star of “Ugly Betty,” had her teeth insured for $10 million in 2007—sponsored by Aquafresh when the actress began endorsing Aquafresh White Trays.
(AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
Troy Polamalu, safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, had his famed head of hair insured last year for $1 million through Lloyd's of London. The football player is the featured spokesman for Head & Shoulders shampoo.
(AP Photo/Gene Puskar, File)
Holly Madison, who gained fame as one of “The Girls Next Door,” in September announced she had insured her breasts for $1 million with Lloyd's of London. Madison is currently starring in the Las Vegas production “Peepshow,” where she appears topless.
(AP Photo/Joe Coomber)
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