10 Craziest Insurance Policies of All Time

10 Craziest Insurance Policies of All Time

Typically earning a bad reputation for being boring and filled with complex policies outlined in mountains of unavoidable paperwork, the insurance industry is definitely not always the most exciting topic. In fact, when it comes to basic coverage on your automobile, home, health or life, insurance policies are fairly standard across the board. But, did you know that you can insure practically anything under the sun? That’s when insurance gets exciting!

While the majority of people only have to worry about insuring their cars and homes, there are thousands of others who have gotten pretty creative with their insurance policies, especially celebrities willing to do everything possible to protect their assets, fortune and fame. No, we’re not just talking about their luxury cars and mansions!

Find out what these celebrities and thousands of others are insuring as we take a look at 10 of the craziest insurance policies of all time. From football, abductions and smiles to legs, hands and even hair, these policies definitely bring some excitement to the insurance industry so stifle those yawns and let’s get started!

#10 – Fantasy Football Insurance

Essentially a version of Dungeons and Dragons for jocks, fantasy football is one of the biggest industries in the world with nearly 60 million people playing every week in the fall. As a result, fantasy football has established the NFL as the biggest and most popular sport in the United States as fans anxiously cheer on their top picks. And, as so many fantasy football players know, one wrong move and an injury of their first round pick can quickly devastate their entire season costing them the league title and a lot of money.

Arizona’s MiniCo Insurance Agency has come up with the perfect solution for crazed fantasy football fans by offering insurance on the game and the players. No, we aren’t joking! If your star player misses at least eight games in the season, then you can get a return on most (if not all) of the money that you paid to enter the league. With the limit on the return set at $1,000, high-roller leagues may see a bigger loss than most but this outrageous insurance policy is definitely not a fantasy and just might save you from breaking the bank next season!

#9 – Taste Buds Insurance (Egon Ronay)

Born in Hungary in 1915, the late Egor Ronay was one of the most acclaimed food critics in Europe who rose to fame after publishing a series of books titled Egon Ronay’s Guide on the finest restaurants and hotels in Britain and Ireland throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Riding the heels of his success, Ronay went on to become a food critic for the legendary J.D. Wetherspoon where his taste buds became of utmost importance and earned him critical praise.

Calling on the Lloyds of London for an insurance policy, Ronay did everything he could to guarantee that he would never lose his taste when he insured his prized taste buds for an incredible $400,000. Thankfully, he never lost his sense of taste and didn’t have to cash in the policy although it would have paid a pretty penny. One thing that Ronay did lose, however, by the time of his death in 2010 was the respect for celebrity chefs whom he had come to recognize as nothing more than “business people” with no real sense for fine cuisine.

#8 – Hair Insurance (Troy Polamalu)

Football great Troy Polamalu was a standout safety at the University of South Carolina before he was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quickly becoming a fan favorite thanks to his instinctive play, game-changing turnovers and magnetic personality, Polamalu spent his entire career in Pittsburgh and even earned the title as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. Though his game was incredibly strong, one thing that helped him stand out even more was his enormous head of hair.

The envy of women around the world, Polamalu’s hair was so popular that he quickly landed a contract with Head & Shoulders shampoo. Scheduled to appear in a series of commercials, the company was so invested in Polamalu’s hair that they took extra precaution and called the Lloyds of London for a special insurance policy to protect his three-foot-long mane. With a $1 million policy, it’s no wonder why Polamalu guarded his locks both on and off the field!

#7 – Sperm Insurance (David Lee Roth)

Ranked as one of the top 100 hard rock bands of all time, Van Halen made lasting waves in the music industry in the early 1970s when singer David Lee Roth, the Van Halen brothers and bassist Michael Lee Anthony took the stage. Leading the band as “Diamond Dave” from 1974 until 1985 when he launched his career as a solo artist, Roth rejoined the band in 2006 on the North American tour leaving millions of fans singing along to classic chart-topping singles like “Jump,” “Panama” and “I’ll Wait.”

Gathering groupies from around the world after four decades in the spotlight, Roth allowed some fans to get even closer than just an autograph, if you know what we mean. For that reason, Diamond Dave took out a $1 million insurance policy on, you guessed it, his sperm! So how exactly does that work? According to those close to Roth, the policy was intended to insure that his sperm would always be available and untampered with when and if someone ever tried to slap him with a paternity lawsuit.

#6 – Thailand Riot Insurance

Traveling abroad can bring a variety of concerns from currency exchanges, amenities and language barriers to dangers such as theft, political uprisings or even riots. Governed by the National Council for Peace and Order since 2014, Thailand has diligently worked to ensure that tourists to their country don’t have to worry about any of those things, especially riots. To do so, Thailand’s tourism department offers travelers free riot insurance throughout their stay giving tourists peace of mind on their once-in-a-lifetime Thai adventure.

If a riot should break out in Thailand and a traveler is permanently disabled or even killed, the traveler or his estate receives $10,000 from the Thai government. Travelers who receive hospital treatment for non-life-threatening injuries are allowed to stay up to 10 days and receive $1,000 per day. Oddly enough, if the riot even causes a taxi driver to take a longer route, travelers can submit a claim to the government and receive full reimbursement for the inconvenience of up to $100 per day. How’s that for traveler’s insurance?

#5 – Smile Insurance (America Ferrera)

Making her film debut in hits like Real Women Have Curves and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, actress America Ferrera truly became a household name when she was cast as Betty Suarez in ABC’s hit sitcom, Ugly Betty. Earning critical acclaim and taking home a Golden Globe, a SAG and a Primetime Emmy for her performance, Ferrera took her dazzling smile back to the silver screen for films like Our Family Wedding before making her return to television as the star and producer of NBC’s comedy Superstore.

Turning heads for both her beauty and talent during her Ugly Betty run from 2006 to 2010, Ferrara cashed in on her dazzling smile when she landed a contract as the spokesperson for Aquafresh’s White Trays, a teeth whitening product. Much like Head & Shoulders did to insure Troy Polamalu’s hair, Aquafresh turned to the Lloyds of London for a $10 million insurance policy to protect their investment in Ferrera and her award-winning smile.

#4 – Hands Insurance (Keith Richards)

First taking the stage in 1962 as one of the most popular bands of all time, Keith Richards and his pals Brian Jones, Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger have been rocking audiences around the world for over five decades as The Rolling Stones. As the guitarist of the group, Richards is considered one of the most influential musicians in rock history and is credited for playing “rock’s greatest single body of rifs” with 14 of his songs listed among Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

As a legendary guitarist responsible for some of the band’s biggest hits like “Paint It Black,” “Ruby Tuesday” and “Gimme Shelter,” Richards wanted to ensure that his hands were always in working order or risk losing millions in addition to his fame. As a result, Richards turned to the Lloyds of London (no surprise there) for an insurance policy on his hands worth $1.6 million. Still insured today, Richards stands by his decision and said, “My hands are my business.” As huge fans of The Rolling Stones, we can’t say we blame him!

#3 – Alien Abduction Insurance

It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s a UFO! Many people across the United States believe that we are not alone in the world and that there is intelligent life somewhere out there waiting to join us. No, we’re not revisiting the plot of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. People who legitimately believe in the possibility of alien abductions have found comfort in knowing multiple insurance companies around the world offer insurance policies for alien abductions that can cause someone to miss work, become pregnant or even a wrongful death.

Believe it or not, most insurance companies only ask that policyholders pay $1 per year for the abduction coverage and more than 20,000 people around the world have taken part. What’s $1 anyway? The good news, of course, is that if you do get abducted you are covered for over $150,000 which is far better than Thailand’s riot insurance if you ask us. Though it’s still up for debate as to whether or not your employer would grant you time off for an alien pregnancy, anything could happen right?

#2 – Body Insurance (David Beckham)

As one of the most popular names in soccer and one of the greatest players in the sport’s history, David Beckham was a huge staple in England’s Manchester United club before signing a contract in the United States to play with the L.A. Galaxy. Skyrocketing to international stardom both on and off the field, Beckham ended his 20-year-career in 2013 with 19 major trophies and as one of the most marketable athletes and highest paid in the industry.

Earning $50 million in 2012 alone through endorsement deals and on the field, Beckham did everything he could to protect his entire body and ensure his longevity in the sport (not to mention his hefty paycheck). As a result, Beckham took out a whopping $195 million insurance policy on himself that covered every inch of his body from head to toe. In fact, the policy was so expensive and complex that it was rumored to involve up to ten different agencies who were more than thrilled to insure soccer’s biggest celebrity.

#1 – Legs Insurance (Heidi Klum)

Rising to stardom on multiple covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, German supermodel Heidi Klum has been one of the most recognizable names and faces in the industry since the early 1990s. Joining the Victoria’s Secret Angels in 1999, the now 42-year-old model is more beautiful than ever as she continues her work on the runway in addition to working as a television host, businesswoman, fashion designer and brand ambassador for companies like Dannon, H&M, McDonald’s and even Barbie.

Towering at 5’9” tall, part of Klum’s sex appeal and beauty is having some of the longest legs imaginable that have graced dozens of magazine covers, walked hundreds of runways and appeared in thousands of ads. As one of her favorite (and most prized) features, Klum took an extra precaution and insured her supermodel legs for $2.2 million. Though fairly common as we saw with Keith Richards’ hands, Klum’s policy was a bit stranger since the policy on her right leg was set at $1.2 million while the policy on her left was only $1 million all because of a small scar just above her knee.