Brought to life by novelist Ian Fleming in 1953, James Bond started out first as a character in a book, and then moved to film, television, radio, comics and video games. The infamous 007 has been the star of 23 films to date, and has enchanted Bond Girls and killed baddies for six decades.
As a fictional character, James Bond would not be in need of life insurance. However, if you were to put aside his fictional status, would James Bond be eligible for life insurance?
To find out more about your own life insurance needs, you can start by visiting the Suncorp life insurance portal. You will be able to get all your questions & concerns answered by their staff members.
Age
While Fleming didn’t provide Bond with a birth date, a fictional biography of Bond by John Pearson placed his birthday on November 11, 1920. At the grand old age of 93, Bond would be too old to get life insurance now. Then again, the permanently-40 film version of Bond should have no problems applying for life insurance.
Dangerous Professions
His job, on the other hand may prevent him from getting approved for cover. While each life insurance provider has different ways of dealing with applicants with dangerous professions, Bond would find it difficult to get approved for life insurance with his incredibly dangerous 9-5.
People with dangerous professions can get cover, but they may have to pay higher premiums, and they may have to put up with lower payouts.
Active engagement in war – Bond’s bread and butter – usually means automatic rejection for life insurance. Bond would be better off getting specialized life insurance from his employer, MI6.
Dangerous Pastimes
What does Bond like to do when he’s not working? If he spends his free time bedding women, gambling and drinking, then you could probably say he has non-dangerous pastimes (although, perhaps not so good for his health).
If he likes to carry the thrill of his work into his private life, perhaps hang gliding, bungee jumping, sky diving, or rock climbing, then this could be a red flag for life insurance providers.
International Life Insurance
Bond travels wherever there is trouble. The trouble with that is, not all life insurance policies cover you while you are overseas. If Bond were looking for life insurance, he would need to find a policy that allowed him to travel, or he could investigate international life insurance options.
Would James Bond even need life insurance?
With no living relatives, no wife, and no children – that he knows of – Bond really doesn’t need life insurance anyway. If he were to settle down, get a mortgage, and start a family, life insurance would become more of a necessity.
Income Protection
While Bond may not need life insurance, income protection could certainly help him out. If he were to get hurt and was no longer able to work, income protection to help tide him over until he got back on his feet. Or perhaps Miss Moneypenny would let him keep his expense account while he recovered.
Photo by: Flickr
I would hope that MI6 would have automatic insurance policies for all of their agents. The last thing they need is agents worrying about their families when they are on the job. US military members get a $450k policy for about $16 per month so I would think Britain (even the fictional one) would have something similar.
Maybe they provide fictional insurance! 🙂 Seriously, I would think like a lot of government careers, the benefits outweigh the pay.
Its seems like MI6 would probably take care of him anyway – in SkyFall when he died the agency sold his flat and put his stuff in storage.
However, its funny you talk about risk, because I was reading about how Allianz isn’t insuring pilots or potential pilots anymore because of risk…very strange!
When you think about danger, I think of war zones or perhaps police work. I always thoght that aviation is one of the safest professions. It is more dangerous to drive in a major city.
Fun article –
Mr. Bond seems to me like the type of guy who has a stash of cash (and a vintage Aston Martin) saved up for a rainy day. With a good amount of liquid assets and no family, I’d say he wouldn’t need Life or Disability insurance.
-Bob
Au contraire! He may have debt that needs to be resolved, or out of wedlock children that need money. Super heroes like Bond do dangerous and risky things which may disable or kill him. Despite that, it would be fun to be Bond!
You would think with the risk involved in the career he would have coverage through MI6 but these are also the types of careers that don’t know you if you are caught and tell people to shot at their own to kill others. Bond has both a risky job and life style not many in my opinion would cover him. When he’s not being shot at for working he’s being shot at for sleeping with their women.
I am sure there is some coverage through MI6, but probably not enough to cover his lifestyle. Disability insurance is probably more important than life insurance.
I’ve never been a big 007 fan, though my dad is and I know would probably appreciate this post. This reminds me of a fairly bad throwaway movie called ‘Along Came Polly’ where one of the side plots was trying to figure out how to insure a rich guy who liked doing extreme activities such as skydiving and the like. In the end, (spoiler), it worked out and they were able to insure him, but not sure if it would work out the same for James Bond.
His best bet is probably group insurance through work, but it is probably the minimum compared to his lifestyle. Disability insurance is probably more important than life insurance.
I would imagine risky jobs like his, the employer would take care of pretty much everything.
If I were James Bond I would get myself a very hefty disability insurance rather than life insurance.
I agree, disability is much more of a risk for a single guy.
Interesting analysis. I’m with other that government usually provides decent life insurance coverage. The more interesting question would be; What is in his will? I’m sure he’s bolstering a decent sized retirement account, where’s that going when he dies? And the life insurance payout. Maybe to M? Hmmmm….
Just knowing his lifestyle, he must have some money put away for retirement! I would think that his estate would go to Moneypenny. She has always been his love.
This is an interesting post. My guess is he would’t be eligible for life insurance as he has such a dangerous career. Then again, stranger things have happened.
I would guess MI6 has some life insurance, but he is single and may need disability insurance. Just his lifestyle indicates he has a lot of money.
I agree with Suba. Since, as you mention, Bond doesn’t seem to have many family ties, he would do well to focus on disability insurance instead. I’m sure that would be a hefty premium as well.
I imagine he has some money put aside because of his lifestyle. Custom made suits, Rolex watches and an Aston Martin costs a lot of money. I can’t believe the government would pay for it.
With no knowledge of living relatives (including children) there wouldn’t be too many concerns for life insurance…to my knowledge. Any debts he had would be void as long as he has no co-signer or family member to consider his beneficiary. If he did have a child he didn’t know about, would that child become responsible for the debts of his father, regardless of whether he knew of him or not?
I wouldn’t insure him if I worked for a life insurance company =) Too much risk.
I agree, income protection would be more important, and maybe insurance for that lovely little face of his, like actors insure their legs or noses.
I would think it would be just ordinary disability insurance albeit for a large sum since he does such dangerous things. Funny, James Bond never seemed to be concerned with his own looks or safety. Men can get away with scars etc. because women are attracted to his confidence, savoir fare etc. I will let you be the judge!
HA! Here’s hoping James Bond doesn’t have to worry about mortal things like life insurance. He probably wouldn’t get car insurance, either!
I think he should qualify for a good driver discount! 🙂 He is a great driver although he does drive fast and a little recklessly.
I can’t see James Bond worrying about life insurance. As others have stated he probably has some through MI6. Disability would be the bigger concern although things usually turn out okay for him in the end anyway.
Even super heroes creed income protection. I wonder if $5K per month will be enough? :). I wonder how he affords his high flying lifestyle? I am sure MI6 is not paying for it. M
I doubt he would qualify, but maybe his heirs get one of those fancy Aston Martins if he kicks it in the line of duty.
He definitely has group insurance, although disability is more important to him than life insurance!
I would assume that Mr. Bond has a lot of money, so I think he’d be able to get some very, very expensive life insurance. You are right though, he probably doesn’t need it. I don’t think James Bond has any dependents!
Single and free! He probably has Lloyd’s, but it is group and it is to maintain his estate or disability. Besides, super heroes are invincible!