Tech billionaire buys record-setting $201 million insurance policy (2024)

A mystery tech billionaire has just purchased the most valuable life insurance policy ever. It's worth $201 million.

The policy was sold by Santa Barbara, Calif.-based SG, a global advisory firm specializing in complex financial solutions for wealthy clients.

According to Guinness World Records, the $201 million policy beats the previous record for a life insurance policy—a $100 million policy for an unnamed American entertainer.

SG won't disclose the buyer's name. The company said the single policyholder is a well-known billionaire living in Silicon Valley who is involved in the tech industry, and $201 million would be paid out upon the buyer's death.

Dovi Frances, SG's president and founder, said no single insurance company holds the $201 million risk. He said the policy is split between 19 different companies and none hold "more than $20 million or so" of risk.

(Read more: Wealthy women are different. Here's why ...)

So why would someone buy such a big policy? Mainly for trust and estate planning reasons. By wrapping or pairing insurance products with trusts, insurance products can become an efficient way to protect assets from estate and other taxes. These tax-efficient insurance products have become increasingly popular with the wealthy as they seek to minimize their tax bills.

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Frances said the policies have become especially popular in high-tax states like California.

(Read more: US millionaire count hits all-time high)

"It's all about trust and estate planning," Frances said. "Having a life insurance policy like this can protect significant assets."

(Read more: Zuckerberg may be the richest 20-something ever)

When SG began in 2010, it solicited new business with a direct mail campaign, which the billionaire answered and subsequently became a client.

By CNBC's Robert Frank. Follow him on Twitter @robtfrank.

Tech billionaire buys record-setting $201 million insurance policy (2024)

FAQs

What is the highest life insurance policy ever? ›

We've set a new Guinness World Record for the most valuable life insurance policy ever sold, worth US$250 million. Issued and fully underwritten by HSBC Life, our insurance business in Hong Kong, it was taken out by an individual customer earlier this year.

Does Elon Musk have life insurance? ›

But what he always did was protect the big risk with life insurance. Because by all accounts, Elon Musk was a healthy man who was almost taken down, all because he took a vacation.

How much does a 10 million dollar life insurance policy cost? ›

A healthy 40-year-old woman could pay $500 per month for a $10 million term life insurance policy with a 20-year term. A 40-year-old man with a similar profile could pay $631 per month for the same coverage. Your rates will depend on your age, health, gender, and lifestyle factors.

What is the most expensive insurance policy in the world? ›

A mystery tech billionaire has just purchased the most valuable life insurance policy ever. It's worth $201 million. The policy was sold by Santa Barbara, Calif.

What life insurance do billionaires use? ›

Permanent life insurance

High-earners who have already maximized contributions to other tax-deferred savings accounts — like 401(k) or Roth IRA — could consider whole life insurance or other permanent policies.

How much life insurance can I get for $100 a month? ›

A 30-year-old in good health can pay around $100 per month for a $100,000 whole life insurance policy. How much you pay will depend on your age and health.

Who is the richest person in insurance? ›

1. Warren Buffett. Buffett once again secures the top spot on the list of the country's wealthiest insurance tycoons. The man known as the “Oracle of Omaha” currently sits in the tenth spot of Forbes' overall rankings with a net worth of $103.6 billion.

Does Elon Musk donated any of his money? ›

Musk's philanthropy has been haphazard and largely self-serving — making him eligible for enormous tax breaks and helping his businesses. Since 2020, he has seeded his charity with tax-deductible donations of stock worth more than $7 billion at the time, making it one of the largest in the country.

Do you pay taxes on life insurance? ›

Generally, life insurance proceeds you receive as a beneficiary due to the death of the insured person, aren't includable in gross income and you don't have to report them. However, any interest you receive is taxable and you should report it as interest received. See Topic 403 for more information about interest.

Can a average person get a million dollar life insurance policy? ›

Can I get a million dollar life insurance policy? If you are reasonably healthy, you will likely qualify for a million dollar policy, and if you're in your 20s, 30s, or even 40s, the cost may be lower than you think for term life coverage.

Can I borrow from my life insurance? ›

You can typically take out loans against permanent life insurance policies, but not term life insurance policies. Life insurance loans use cash value accounts as collateral. Term life insurance policies do not come with a cash value account, so policyholders can't borrow money from their insurer against these policies.

What insurance company do millionaires use? ›

AIG Private Client Group are committed to serving the unique needs of high-net-worth customers. AIG Private Client Group policyholders include: Nearly 40% of the Forbes 400 Richest Americans. Over 50% of the American-based collectors on the ARTnews Top 200 Collectors list.

What is the strongest insurance brand in the world? ›

Life Insurance Company (LIC) from India has emerged as the world's strongest insurance brand, according to a report titled 'Brand Finance Insurance 100 2024' by London-based consultancy firm Brand Finance.

What is the most profitable insurance policy? ›

Life insurance is the most profitable—and the hardest—type of insurance to sell. With the highest premiums and the longest-running contract, it brings in cash over a long period of time. In the first year, agents make the largest annual sum on a policy, bringing in anywhere from 40–120% of the policy premium.

What is the maximum amount of life insurance policy? ›

The HLV factor limit for a given age band is 15. This means that you can have a maximum life insurance coverage of 15 times your annual income. So, if your annual income is ₹16 lakh, then 15 times (HLV) of this will put a limit of ₹2.4 crore on the life cover (15 multiplied by ₹16 lakh income).

Is it possible to have a million dollar life insurance policy? ›

A million-dollar term life insurance policy provides protection for a certain number of years, whereas a whole life policy provides lifetime protection. If you pass away during the term, your beneficiaries receive the $1 million death benefit.

How much does a $100,000 whole life insurance policy cost? ›

The average cost of a $100,000 whole life insurance policy is about $88 a month, or $1,056 a year, based on our analysis of whole life insurance quotes for a 30-year-old nonsmoker in good health. Whole life insurance offers permanent coverage, meaning it typically lasts your lifetime as long as you pay your premiums.

How much do you get if you sell a $100000 life insurance policy? ›

Every case is different, and the amounts different companies offer vary. However, according to the Life Insurance Settlement Association (LISA), the average life settlement is 20% of the policy's face value. That means if your policy has a $100,000 benefit, you might receive $20,000 from selling it.

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