Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

  • Advertisements

Troy Polamalu sees his hair insured for $1 million

Troy Polamalu of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers endorses Head and Shoulders shampoo. The shampoo maker has taken out a $1 million insurance policy on Polamalu's head of hair.

By Pat MurphyStaff writer / August 31, 2010

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu smiles during the NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu in this 2006 file photo. Polamalu has a price on his head -- with an anti-dandruff shampoo brand taking out a $1 million insurance policy on his trademark mane of black ringlets.

Lucy Pemoni/Reuters/File

Enlarge

Troy Polamalu loves his hair and so does the company that produces a shampoo he endorses. Head and Shoulders announced Monday it has taken out a $1 million policy with Lloyd's of London on the hair of the Pittsburgh Steelers safety.

Skip to next paragraph

Polamalu honors his Samoan ancestry by wearing his hair long, flowing from beneath his football helmet.

However, the USC product is not the first athlete to have a body part financially protected. According to ESPN The Magazine, LA Galaxy and British national team star David Beckham had his legs insured for $78 million back in 2006. Last year, Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo had his entire lower body insured for $153 million, according to the magazine.

Polamalu isn't the first football player to get an insurance policy, although he's probably the first to insure his locks. It has been standard procedure for returning US college lettermen who are fifth-year seniors and don't enter the NFL Draft, to buy insurance as financial protection. Should they become injured during their final college season and are not able to continue their football careers, they can get an insurance pay out. Rocco Gasparro, assistant sports information director at the University of Louisville, says college football players with NFL prospects continue to do this.

If you'd like to check out Troy's hair a little more, take a look at this Head and Shoulders commercial.

E-mail Permissions

Photos of the day

02.15.12 »

What happens when ordinary people decide to pay it forward? Extraordinary change. See how individuals are making a difference...

Charlie Weingarten pictured during a Common Threads cooking class in Los Angeles. The program, one of many projects started by Mr. Weingarten, aims to teach children to love healthy cooking and eating.

Charlie Weingarten finds fresh ways to champion selfless acts of philanthropy

A member of a philanthropic family founded Explore.org to inspire selflessness and lifelong learning.

Become a fan! Follow us! YouTube Link up with us! See our feeds!