7. Other celebrities insured valuable parts of their body through Lloyd’s, though not for reasons of publicity
Lloyd’s has insured celebrities’ body parts’ over the years for a variety of reasons, acknowledging their contributions to their owners’ making a living. The Rolling Stones guitarist and songwriter Keith Richards insured his hands through Lloyd’s for $1.6 million, though it would be reasonable to wonder how Keith could obtain insurance for any part of his long-abused body. Singer Dolly Parton obtained a £3.8 million policy for two of her most valued assets. Her voice wasn’t one of them. Football star David Beckham purchased a policy from Lloyd’s, though for a different reason than Betty Grable’s, for £100 million in 2006. Dancers Rudolph Nureyev and Michael Flatley (Riverdance) both insured their legs through Lloyd’s.
American film star and icon of cool James Dean took out a $100,000 life insurance policy underwritten by Lloyd’s just over one week before he was killed. Dean was traveling to an auto racing event In Salinas, California when his new, 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder slammed into a car which made a left-hand turn as he approached. Though he appeared to have a pulse he had suffered massive head trauma and was likely brain dead by the time emergency personnel arrived. Despite questionable circumstances over the accident, including the fact that Dean was likely driving well above the speed limit, Lloyd’s paid the claim on the policy one week after the fatal crash.