Million-Dollar Legs: Body-Part Insurance

by Anna Glendenning | More from this Blogger

02 Aug 2007 10:02 AM

Betty Grable was known as the "Girl with the Million-Dollar Legs" because that's what Fox Studios requested from Lloyd's of London for the Body-Parts insurance policy. Grable was once quoted to have said, "There are two reasons why I am successful in show business and I am standing on both of them." Grable knew her legs were something to be admired. Most ordinary people wouldn't need this type of insurance, but those who have careers based on their appearance or performance might need body-part insurance coverage.

There are rumors that Jennifer Lopez insures her rear-end for a billion-bucks, although she denies it. Anyone with a body part that valuable shouldn't go around advertising it. There are reports throughout the history of the entertainment business of celebrities insuring a variety of body-parts.

The earliest reports of body-part insurance come from the 1920s, when a policy insuring silent movie star Ben Turpin's signature crossed eyes from a risk of going straight was issued. It might seem odd anyone famous for crossed eyes could make it big in the first place but, the fact Turpin took out insurance protecting this asset is rather interesting.

Insurance is a contract binding an insurer to indemnify someone against a specific loss in return for a premium. There needs to be a value for the asset being insured and most of us generally think insurance would cover losses suffered from some kind of disaster. Well, when you think about it, celebrities need body-part insurance if their asset is their rump what would they have if something happened back there? A disaster!

Bruce Springsteen was once reported to insure his voice for six million dollars and the truth is that had something gone wrong with The Boss' voice it very well may have cost him the rest of his career and substantial future earning potential. When we consider what a movie star, singer or model has as an asset it's not so strange to imagine they may want to insure their future in the event something goes wrong. It's just too bad there isn't "No-Talent" insurance for some of the celebrities.

Photo Credits: The photo's on this Blog are part of the Public Domain.

Related Blogs:

• Movie Insurance
• More Interesting Body Parts Celebrities Insure
• What is the Business of Insurance?

Glossary of Insurance Terms:

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J-K | L | M | N | O | P | Q-R | S | T | U-V | W-Z

Families.com Blogs are for informational purposes only. Families.com assumes no responsibility for consumer choices. Consumers are reminded that it is their responsibility to research their choices properly and speak to a certified insurance professional prior to making any decision as important as an insurance purchase.

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