Insurance exists to protect us from life's uncertainties—but some people take that protection to extraordinary levels. From celebrities insuring body parts to corporations hedging against bizarre occurrences, the insurance industry has responded with policies covering risks you'd never imagine were insurable. These aren't urban legends or marketing stunts; they're legitimate insurance policies that push the boundaries of what we typically consider insurable. Here's a deep dive into the world's strangest insurance policies that actually exist.

Body Part Insurance: More Than Just Vanity

When we hear about celebrities insuring their body parts, it's easy to dismiss it as vanity or publicity stunts. The reality is more practical and often involves protecting genuine financial interests.

Perhaps the most famous example is Jennifer Lopez's reported $27 million insurance policy on her buttocks. While the figure makes headlines, the reasoning is business-focused: her physique is part of her brand and marketability. If an injury or medical condition affected her appearance, it could potentially cost millions in lost endorsements and performance opportunities.

Similarly, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo's legs are reportedly insured for over $144 million. For an athlete whose income depends on physical performance, this represents protection against career-ending injuries.

"These policies aren't just about vanity—they're about income protection," explains Harrison Phillips, underwriter at Exceptional Risk Advisors, a firm specializing in high-limit specialty insurance. "When a specific physical attribute is central to someone's earning capacity, insuring it makes financial sense."

Other notable body part policies include:

• Keith Richards' hands, insured for $1.6 million
• Bruce Springsteen's voice, protected by a $6 million policy
• America Ferrera's smile, insured for $10 million while she was a spokesperson for a teeth-whitening brand
• Julia Roberts' smile, covered for $30 million
• Heidi Klum's legs, insured for $2 million (with her right leg valued less than her left due to a small scar)

But it's not just celebrities. Professional food tasters, such as coffee tasters and master sommeliers, frequently insure their sense of taste and smell for millions. Egon Ronay, the famous food critic, had his taste buds insured for $400,000—equivalent to about $1 million today.

"We once insured a master perfumer's nose for €5 million," recalls Cristina Pujades, a specialty insurer based in Barcelona. "If he lost his sense of smell, his company would lose its competitive edge in fragrance development, potentially costing them far more than the premium."

Kidnap and Ransom Insurance: The Policy No One Talks About

In certain industries and regions, kidnap and ransom (K&R) insurance is a standard business expense—though companies go to great lengths to keep these policies secret.

"The first rule of K&R insurance is that you don't talk about K&R insurance," explains former hostage negotiator Martin Ellis. "Most policies include a confidentiality clause because knowledge of coverage might actually increase the risk by making someone a more attractive target."

These policies typically cover ransom payments, crisis response teams, negotiators' fees, and medical or psychological care for victims. The global market for such insurance exceeds $500 million annually, with companies operating in high-risk regions like parts of Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East being the primary customers.

What makes these policies unusual is not just their secretive nature but also how they're structured. Unlike most insurance where payment happens after a loss, K&R insurers are actively involved from the moment an incident occurs, typically deploying professional negotiators within hours.

"It's one of the few types of insurance where the insurer plays an active role in resolving the situation," notes Ellis. "They're not just paying claims—they're helping to bring people home safely."

Premiums vary dramatically based on risk profiles, ranging from a few thousand dollars for minimal coverage to millions for comprehensive protection for high-profile individuals or companies operating in extremely high-risk areas.

Alien Abduction Insurance: Protecting Against the Extraterrestrial Unknown

Yes, you can actually buy insurance against being abducted by aliens. While this might sound like a joke, several companies around the world offer legitimate policies covering alien abduction.

The London-based firm Goodfellow Rebecca Ingrams Pearson (GRIP) has sold over 30,000 alien abduction policies since the 1990s. One of their most famous clients was the Heaven's Gate cult, who tragically took their own lives in a mass suicide in 1997. Each member had purchased a $1 million alien abduction policy before their deaths.

Mike St. Lawrence, founder of the UFO Abduction Insurance Company in Florida, has sold over 20,000 policies at $19.95 each. His policy promises a $10 million payout to anyone who can prove they were abducted by extraterrestrials.

"The policy includes outpatient psychiatric care and double indemnity if the aliens insist on conjugal visits or if you're impregnated by aliens," St. Lawrence explains with a hint of humor. "But the best feature is the lifetime installment plan for payouts—$1 per year for 10 million years."

While the policies contain tongue-in-cheek elements, they're technically legitimate insurance contracts. The catch? Claimants must provide substantiated proof of abduction, and the policy often requires a signature from an authorized alien representative for validation.

Despite the obvious challenges in making a successful claim, these policies continue to sell. "Some people buy them as novelty gifts, but others genuinely believe in the risk," says paranormal insurance specialist Debra Mendes. "It's a small price for peace of mind, even if the risk seems far-fetched to most of us."

Multiple Birth Insurance: Hedging Against Double (or Triple) Trouble

The financial impact of having twins, triplets, or more can be substantial—additional childcare costs, larger vehicles, home renovations, and potential loss of income if one parent needs to stay home longer than planned. This is where multiple birth insurance comes in.

"We've seen a significant increase in multiple birth coverage over the past decade," notes family insurance specialist Rajiv Sharma. "With more women using fertility treatments, which increase the chances of multiple births, the financial planning aspect becomes crucial."

In the UK, multiple birth insurance typically costs between £100-£350 as a one-time premium, with payouts ranging from £3,000 for twins to £5,000 for triplets and higher amounts for greater numbers.

The odds of having twins naturally is about 1 in 250 births. For triplets, it's approximately 1 in 10,000. However, those odds increase significantly with fertility treatments—up to 1 in 3 for some procedures.

"We purchased multiple birth insurance when we started IVF," shares London-based mother Emma Preston. "Everyone thought we were being pessimistic, but when we found out we were having triplets, that £200 premium resulted in a £6,000 payout that covered our nursery renovations and triple stroller."

What's particularly interesting about multiple birth insurance is the actuarial calculations involved. Insurers often ask detailed questions about family history of multiple births and fertility treatments to determine premiums, as these factors significantly affect the likelihood of a claim.

Wedding Insurance: Because "I Do" Doesn't Always Go As Planned

With the average wedding in the United States costing nearly $30,000, it's no surprise that wedding insurance has become increasingly popular. What's surprising, however, is the bizarre range of contingencies these policies now cover.

"We've seen coverage requests for just about everything imaginable," says wedding insurance specialist Maria Chen. "Inclement weather is standard, but we now offer riders for wedding dress damage, vendor bankruptcy, military deployment, and even 'change of heart' coverage."

The "change of heart" provision is particularly unusual in the insurance world, as it covers something that is entirely within someone's control—deciding not to go through with the wedding. However, most policies only cover situations where the wedding is canceled by parents or guardians who are financially responsible for the event, not by the bride or groom themselves.

Other unusual wedding insurance provisions include:

• Political Unrest: Coverage if a destination wedding location becomes unsafe due to riots, civil unrest, or terrorism
• Vendor No-Show: Protection if critical vendors like photographers or caterers fail to appear
• Damaged Gifts: Coverage for gifts that are damaged at the wedding venue
• Missing Officiant: Reimbursement if the person legally authorized to perform the ceremony doesn't show up
• Ruined Photos: Compensation to restage key photographs if the originals are damaged or lost by the photographer

"We once had a claim where the bride and groom had to evacuate their destination wedding in Bali due to a volcanic eruption," recalls Chen. "Not only did we cover the cancelled wedding, but our policy also included coverage for rescheduling the entire event stateside three months later."

Basic wedding insurance starts around $155 and can exceed $1,000 for comprehensive coverage of high-value celebrations.

Paranormal Activity Insurance: Protection Against Things That Go Bump in the Night

If you're concerned about ghosts, poltergeists, or demonic possession, there's an insurance policy for that. Royal Falcon Insurance in the UK offers coverage against injuries or death caused by paranormal activity, with premiums ranging from £100 to several thousand pounds depending on the perceived risk.

"We developed this product after receiving multiple inquiries following highly publicized hauntings," explains Royal Falcon underwriter Thomas Williams. "While skeptics might laugh, for those who genuinely believe their home is haunted, the peace of mind is worth the premium."

The policy typically covers medical expenses, loss of income, and psychiatric care resulting from encounters with supernatural entities. Some policies even include coverage for exorcism services.

Proving a claim is obviously challenging, but not impossible. Most policies require documentation from multiple witnesses, testimony from paranormal investigators, and sometimes video evidence.

"We've paid three claims in the past decade," Williams states. "One involved a family who provided compelling video evidence of objects moving independently, verified by a panel of experts as unlikely to be fraudulent. Another claim was validated by a team of university researchers who documented unexplained phenomena in the claimant's home over several months."

According to paranormal claims adjuster Rebecca Marsh, most policies include strict criteria: "We require evidence that rules out natural explanations, consistent witness testimonies, and often validation from recognized paranormal research organizations."

Fantasy Sports Insurance: Protecting Your Virtual Team

Fantasy sports have evolved from casual hobby to big business, with an estimated 60 million people participating in North America alone. With entry fees for high-stakes leagues reaching thousands of dollars, a new insurance niche has emerged: fantasy sports insurance.

"We launched this product after seeing countless social media meltdowns when star players got injured and destroyed someone's fantasy season," explains Chris Jackson, founder of FantasyShield Insurance. "When people are investing $1,000 or more in league fees and research materials, protecting that investment makes sense."

These policies cover a fantasy team owner's entry fee if their top draft picks suffer season-ending injuries. Typically, the insurance costs 10% of the amount being insured, with specific conditions around when and how players must be injured to qualify for a claim.

For example, a policy might specify that if any of your top three draft picks misses at least 10 games due to a verified injury, you'll receive a full refund of your league entry fee.

"The actuarial work behind these policies is fascinating," notes sports insurance specialist Amanda Reyes. "We analyze injury histories, playing styles, team dynamics, and even field conditions to price the risk accurately."

This form of insurance represents a growing trend of covering purely recreational activities with real financial stakes—further blurring the line between gaming and gambling.

Cold Feet Insurance: The Ultimate Wedding Backup Plan

While standard wedding insurance typically excludes cancellations due to a simple change of heart by the bride or groom, specialized "cold feet insurance" specifically covers this scenario.

"It's essentially a financial hedge against getting left at the altar," explains wedding financial specialist Jordan Martinez. "Usually purchased by parents who are funding the wedding and want protection against their child—or prospective in-law—backing out."

Wedsure and other specialty insurers offer policies that reimburse non-refundable expenses if the wedding is cancelled due to either party's voluntary withdrawal, provided the cancellation occurs at least 365 days after purchasing the policy (to prevent people from insuring already-doomed engagements).

The psychological aspect makes this insurance particularly unusual. "We're essentially insuring against someone's change of mind—something that's entirely within human control," notes insurance ethicist Dr. Eleanor Finch. "It's one of the few cases where insurers are comfortable covering an intentional act rather than an accident or unforeseen circumstance."

Premiums typically run between 5-10% of the coverage amount, with strict exclusions for pre-existing relationship problems or prior instances of broken engagements.

Hole-in-One Insurance: Because Sometimes Luck Costs Too Much

Many golf tournaments offer substantial prizes for hitting a hole-in-one on designated holes—sometimes reaching values of $1 million or luxury cars. The tournament organizers rarely pay these prizes directly; instead, they purchase hole-in-one insurance.

"The odds of an amateur golfer hitting a hole-in-one on a specific hole are roughly 12,500 to 1," explains sports insurance underwriter Michael Chang. "For professionals, it's closer to 2,500 to 1. We price the policies accordingly."

A typical premium might be 3-15% of the prize value, depending on the hole's difficulty, the number of participants, and their skill levels. The tournament pays the premium, and if someone hits the lucky shot, the insurer pays the prize.

Japanese golfers have taken this concept to another level with a different type of hole-in-one insurance. In Japan, tradition dictates that anyone who scores a hole-in-one must host an elaborate celebration for friends and fellow golfers, often costing $10,000 or more.

"Many Japanese golfers purchase insurance specifically to cover these celebration costs," says Chang. "For about $65 per year, they're protected against the financial burden of their own good luck."

This culturally specific insurance highlights how insurance products often evolve to address region-specific social customs and obligations.

Immaculate Conception Insurance: Divine Protection

In what might be one of the strangest insurance policies ever written, three sisters in Essex, England, jointly purchased immaculate conception insurance in the late 1990s. The policy would pay £1 million if one of them gave birth to the next messiah as a result of immaculate conception.

The sisters, all named in the policy, paid annual premiums of £100 each for several years. The insurance company confirmed the policy was legitimate, though with obvious clauses: the birth would need to be verified as truly immaculate (through medical examination and sworn affidavits), and the child would need to be certified by the Pope as the new messiah.

"This falls into the category of extremely low probability but extremely high consequence events," explains theological risk specialist Father Martin Raymond, who also holds an actuarial science degree. "Mathematically speaking, the premium would need to be extraordinarily low to account for the near-zero probability, but high enough to cover administrative costs of maintaining such an unusual policy."

While this example sounds like a publicity stunt, it was a genuine policy underwritten by a regulated insurance company. The Catholic Church eventually requested the policy be discontinued, arguing it trivialized religious beliefs.

Lottery Winner Insurance: Protection Against Sudden Good Fortune

In a twist on traditional insurance that protects against misfortune, some companies offer employers protection against losing key employees to lottery windfalls.

"We developed this after a manufacturing company lost 22 employees overnight when their office pool won a $241 million jackpot," explains corporate insurance specialist Daniel Ortega. "The sudden departure of that many workers simultaneously nearly bankrupted the company."

Lottery winner insurance compensates businesses for costs associated with the mass exodus of staff after a significant lottery win, including recruitment, training, temporary staff, and lost productivity. The policy is particularly popular with small to medium-sized businesses where a large portion of the workforce often participates in lottery pools.

Premiums are calculated based on the number of employee lottery pools, frequency of play, and typical jackpot sizes in the region. While the odds of a specific group winning are extremely low, the potential business disruption can be catastrophic.

"It's a fascinating actuarial challenge," notes Ortega. "We're essentially calculating the probability of an extremely unlikely positive event causing significant negative business consequences."

Death by Laughter Insurance: No Joking Matter

Comedy festivals and performance venues sometimes purchase insurance to cover liability if an audience member dies from laughter—literally.

"It sounds ridiculous until you research the documented cases of people actually dying from laughter-induced asphyxiation or cardiac events," explains entertainment insurance specialist Olivia Watts. "While extremely rare, there are medical case studies supporting the possibility."

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival famously took out such a policy after a comedian's particularly outrageous show resulted in an audience member being hospitalized with laughter-induced respiratory distress.

The policy typically covers legal liability, potential damages awarded to families, and associated public relations costs. Premiums are relatively low due to the rarity of claims, but the coverage provides important protection for venues and performers.

"We've never paid a claim for an actual death," notes Watts, "but we have covered medical expenses for several audience members who suffered minor injuries from falling out of their seats or hyperventilation episodes triggered by uncontrollable laughter."

The Business Logic Behind Bizarre Coverage

While these policies might seem like novelties or publicity stunts, they represent a legitimate segment of the specialty insurance market worth billions of dollars annually.

"Unusual insurance is actually a sophisticated risk management tool," explains insurance economist Dr. Sarah Chen. "The common thread in all these cases is transferring specific, quantifiable risks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible for individuals or businesses to manage on their own."

For insurers, these niche policies serve multiple business purposes:

• High Margins: Unusual risks often command premium prices due to limited competition
• Marketing Value: Bizarre policies generate media coverage and brand awareness
• Portfolio Diversification: These risks often have no correlation with traditional insurance lines, spreading an insurer's overall risk
• Market Intelligence: Developing unusual products helps insurers identify emerging customer needs

"The specialty insurance market functions as an innovation lab for the wider industry," notes Chen. "Concepts that begin as seemingly bizarre one-off policies sometimes evolve into mainstream products as societal risks and values shift."

This evolution is evident in policies like wedding insurance and fantasy sports coverage, which began as novelties but now represent significant market segments with standardized terms and competitive pricing.

How to Get Your Own Unusual Insurance

If you're interested in obtaining coverage for an unusual risk, the process differs significantly from buying standard insurance:

1. Specialty Brokers: Start with brokers who specialize in non-standard risks, such as Lloyd's of London registered brokers
2. Risk Quantification: Be prepared to provide detailed information about the specific risk, including historical data if available
3. Flexible Budgeting: Unusual insurance typically costs more than standard coverage due to the customized nature and limited competition
4. Patience: Underwriting unusual risks often takes longer as insurers may need to develop custom actuarial models
5. Clear Claims Conditions: Ensure you understand exactly what evidence will be required to make a successful claim

"The most important aspect of unusual insurance is the claims validation process," advises specialty insurance broker Michael Tenwick. "Before purchasing any policy, get absolute clarity on what would constitute proof of loss and how claims will be evaluated."

As our world becomes increasingly complex and interconnected, the range of available insurance products continues to expand into ever more specialized niches. Today's oddity might be tomorrow's standard coverage—just as cyber insurance, once considered exotic, is now a fundamental business protection.

Whether these policies represent prudent financial planning or excessive caution depends entirely on your perspective and specific circumstances. But one thing is certain: if you can imagine a risk, somewhere there's likely an insurer willing to cover it—for the right price.