It seems these days that there is insurance for everything. Worried that Fido’s diabetes medication is going to cost you an arm and a leg? There’s insurance for that. Or perhaps that a case of the bubonic plague might sweep through your family? There’s insurance for that too. If you think the above insurance cases are unnecessary, check out the list below of the 13 strangest things ever insured. We guarantee that after you’ve read these, not only will plague insurance seem realistic, but you may also be inspired to take out insurance on a distinctive characteristic of your own.
1.) Troy Polamalu’s Luscious Locks
In 2010, Lloyd’s of London insured the NFL safety’s hair for $1,000,000.
2.) Merv Hughes’ Marvelous Mustache
The cricket player took out an estimated $370,000 policy on his walrus-like mustache while he was playing for Australia’s national team.
3.) Tom Jones’ Charming Chest Hair
The Welsh singer has his chest hair insured for several million dollars. “What’s new pussycat?” Taking out insurance for hair that will eventually fall out anyways, that’s what.
4.) Egon Ronay’s Terrific Taste Buds
Renowned food critic Egon Ronay had his taste buds insured in 1957 for $400,000.
5.) Ken Dodd’s Bold Buckteeth
British comedian and singer Ken Dodd’s buckteeth are so famous and integral to his act that he had them insured for $7.4 million.
6.) Ben Turpin’s Expressive Eyes
Ben Turpin was famous in the silent film era for his classic crossed eyes. In the 1920’s, he took out a $20,000 policy with Lloyd’s of London to insure them from uncrossing.
7.) Harvey Lowe’s Hectic Hands
Give that boy a hand! After winning the 1932 World Yo-Yo Championship, Lowe’s hands were so valuable to the Cheerio Yo-Yo Company of Canada that they insured his hands for $150,000.
8.) Chas McDevitt’s Fantastic Fingers
McDevitt, a popular English washboard player in the 1950’s, insured his fingers for $9,300. Unfortunately, rock and roll replaced his genre in the 1960’s, and took much of McDevitt’s audience with it.
9.) Keith Richard’s Magical Middle Finger
Keith Richard’s livelihood as guitarist for the Rolling Stones depends so much on his playing ability that he has his middle guitar finger insured for $1.5 million. We’re curious to know what the others are worth.
10.) Bruce Springsteen’s Valuable Vocal Cords
Bruce Springsteen’s distinctive voice has earned him a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His vocal cords were insured in the 1980’s for $6 million.
11.) A Sensational Cigar
Lloyd’s of London once wrote an insurance policy for a cigar over 12 feet long and made from more than $15,000 tobacco leaves. At the time, it held the world record for the longest cigar.
12.) A Cautious Comedy Duo
To insure against a split up, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, most famous for their “Who’s on First?” routine, took out a $250,000 insurance policy over a five year period.
13.) A Guarded Game Show
Which American game show is actually insured against the possibility of a contestant winning?
A) Wheel of Fortune C) Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
B) The Price is Right D) Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Want to ask the audience? The answer is C) Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Final answer.
