Illinois is about smack-bang average when it comes to how much money you need to be bringing in to live there, which has to be considered something of a surprise when you consider that the state contains the powerhouse of Chicago. Food prices are surprisingly low at less than seven thousand dollars per year; apparently, deep dish pizzas don't cost as much in the state that's famous for them as they do everywhere else!
There is plenty that Illinois can be proud of when it comes to its history and landmarks. It was the first state in the USA to abolish slavery - perhaps thanks to the fact that it was Abraham Lincoln who passed the law, and Lincoln was a son of Illinois. You'll also find the 'home' of Superman here; the state has a town called Metropolis, although it may not look much like the super-city you've seen in the movies.
To insure one’s house, one’s car or to underwrite a life insurance policy, that is common practice. But who would pay an insurance premium for his/her thumb, legs or smile? Stars, of course.
At the top of the ranking are the legs of Mariah Carey, worth 810 million USD: The diva became, in 2006, the Gillette brand muse for the advertising campaign «Legs of a Goddess». She then took out an insurance policy with London Lloyds to protect her legs, a decision that is far from being insignificant. Among its customers, the London insurer then included several icons of music, such as Bob Dylan or Rod Stewart.
David Beckham’s body insured for 195 million USD: European champion with Manchester United in 1999, David Beckham was in 2006 the most renowned footballer of the planet. In relation to his sporting activities, he took out an insurance cover for his legs. The huge amount paid for his insurance would reportedly exceed the 103 million USD disbursed by Real Madrid for the cover of Christiano Ronaldo in 2009. The fashion model would later extend his insurance cover to his entire body.
15 million USD in insurance for Kim Kardashian’s curves: The curves of Kim Kardashian are her number one beauty asset. The reality TV star, who is crazy about plastic surgery, has underwritten an insurance policy worth 15 million USD to protect her famous butt.
The culinary critic Egon Ronay assured his taste buds: The famous Hungarian culinary critic has insured his taste buds since 1957, for the amount of 400 000 USD. An original insurance policy which allows him to cover his sense of taste without which he will no longer be able to practice his job.