We all know that Lloyd’s provides a marketplace where policies are written covering motor, aviation, marine, catastrophe, property, kidnap and ransom and fine art, to name just a few. Lloyd’s, however, is also famous for insuring other, more unique items such as:

° Betty Grable’s, Brooke Shields' and Tina Turner’s legs
° Jimmy Durante’s nose
° Keith Richard’s fingers
° Celine Dion’s vocal chords
° America Ferrera’s smile
° Tempest Storm’s breasts
° Steve Fossett’s life for $50 million
° The bodies of professional wrestlers Bret Hart, Curt Henning, Brian Adams and Joe Laurinaitis

We can now add to that list the tongue of a chief coffee taster, which has been insured for £10 million ($13.75 million) by whom else but Lloyd’s of London. Gennaro Pelliccia, who tastes cup after cup of the hot morning beverage for Costa Coffee, a UK-based coffee chain, has 18 years of experience and it seems both the coffee corporation and Pelliccia himself find his taste buds are too valuable to leave unprotected. Of course, this is not the first time Lloyd’s has insured a tongue as wine tasters have also purchased protection for their palate. Even more obscure – a Dutch wine maker insured his nose for $5.3 million last year.

If only we could insure our 401k’s.

Emily Holbrook
Click here to comment