Much like Sears, JC Penney was once considered to be an all-weather brand, capable of surviving the very worst economic conditions. That isn't how things have turned out for them. Even though they still have large and glamorous stores open in multiple locations, the signs of fade are everywhere within the firm. During 2018, one thousand employees were laid off, and a major distribution center was closed down to save money.
The company is currently saddled with a total debt of $4.2bn, making its $116m income last year a drop in the ocean compared to what has to be paid off. The company has a lot of investors, some of whom are keener to see a speedy return on their investment than others, and there are signs of impatience at boardroom level. Chairman Marvin Ellison walked away in May 2018, and there's no sign his replacement has a handle on the situation. The day may soon come where this Penney drops.
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.