Insurance for body parts began in the 1900s when comedian Ben Turpin (1869-1940) took out an insurance policy for his characteristic squinty eyes. You will receive compensation if they return to normal. After that, other Hollywood stars also found ways to protect their bodies that helped them make money and become famous, including two-time Oscar winner Bette Davis (1908-1989) who bought waist insurance.
Actress Betty Grable (1916-1973) is the one who set the precedent for “million dollar legs” in Hollywood. Following her, top beauties such as Heidi Klum, Rihanna and Taylor Swift… did not hesitate to spend millions of dollars to buy insurance for their impressive legs.
Thanks to her legs, Betty Grable became one of Hollywood’s sex symbols. There was no denying her talent, but her legs played a big part in attracting audiences to the box office and making her the highest-paid star between 1943 and 1951. During World War II Second, the photo of Betty showing off her long legs received love from many soldiers. In 1945, people carved her footprints on the cement floor in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater (Los Angeles, USA). Later that year, Betty’s legs were dubbed “the great mark of Hollywood” by Life magazine. At the peak of her career, 20th Century-Fox promoted the star’s image by insuring her legs for $1 million.
Along with her impressive voice, vibrant dance moves and signature hair, her legs became one of Tina Turner’s outstanding features. The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll often shows off her slim, toned legs in sparkling short dresses on stage. To protect this physical advantage, she is willing to spend 3.2 million USD to buy insurance. Not only that, the late legend also dedicated a song to legs in 1994, called Legs.
German supermodel and TV host Heidi Klum began her career in 1992. Since then, her legs have appeared on countless runways and magazine covers. Realizing their value, Heidi bought insurance in 2004 for $2 million. According to the former lingerie angel, when she went for an appraisal, she discovered that both legs were not of equal value. The left leg, due to scars, was not as expensive as the right leg.
In 2006, Mariah Carey’s feet were named “Goddess Feet” by Gilette Venus. A 4.87 m replica of the diva’s legs born in 1969 is located at Radio City Music Hall (New York, USA). The same year, tabloids reported that Mariah bought a $1 billion contract for her legs. However, this information has not been verified. During the Sweet Sweet Fantasy tour in 2011, the music superstar spent $35 million in insurance on his voice and an equivalent amount on his legs.
After Mariah Carey, Rihanna became the second person to be honored with the “Goddess Legs” award in 2007. To protect her “equity”, the female billionaire bought insurance worth 1 million USD.
Before the 1989 tour in 2015, Taylor Swift insured her legs for $40 million in case an incident occurred that prevented her from performing. The country music princess is 1.8 m tall, and the most impressive thing is her slim legs. She often shows off her advantages in short skirts, high-waisted shorts and short jumpsuits.