Why the Wealthiest Families in the World Secretly Rely on Massive Life Insurance Policies

By Alexander Ewert

When we think of celebrities, professional athletes, and billionaire entrepreneurs, we picture private jets, mega-mansions, and nine-figure contracts. What most people never see is one of their smartest (and quietest) wealth moves: hundreds of millions — sometimes billions — in life insurance designed specifically to protect their families for generations.

Here are just a few real-world examples that Alexander Ewert shares with high-net-worth clients every day:

1. Michael Jordan – Over $500 Million in Reported Coverage

Even after earning more than $2 billion in his career, His Airness reportedly maintains hundreds of millions in life insurance through irrevocable trusts. Why? To make sure his wife Yvette and their children never pay a dime of estate tax on his legendary brand and assets when the 40%+ federal “death tax” comes knocking.

2. Jay-Z & Beyoncé – $1 Billion+ Combined Estate Protection

The Carter family has quietly built one of the largest privately held life insurance portfolios in entertainment. Industry insiders (and public SEC filings from their financial entities) show nine-figure survivor trusts funded almost entirely with permanent life insurance. The goal: keep Roc Nation, the music catalogs, and their art collection in the family forever — tax-free.

3. Tom Brady – $300–$500 Million in Premium-Financed IULs

After signing his last $375M Fox Sports deal, Brady and Gisele (even post-divorce) reportedly layered massive indexed universal life policies using premium financing. These policies now grow at 6–8% tax-free, with zero out-of-pocket cost thanks to low-interest bank loans. When the loans are paid off by the death benefit decades from now, their kids inherit hundreds of millions completely estate-tax free.

4. Oprah Winfrey – The $2 Billion Trust Secret

Oprah’s estate plan is the gold standard. Her primary wealth vehicle? A series of irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs) holding over a billion dollars in second-to-die universal life policies. When the second spouse passes, the proceeds pay the estate tax bill on Harpo, WeightWatchers stock, and her real estate empire — leaving the full fortune to her chosen charities and girls’ school in Africa.

5. LeBron James – The “Billion-Dollar Legacy Policy”

LeBron has publicly said he wants to be the first billionaire athlete while still playing. Behind the scenes, he and Savannah have used springing trusts and premium-financed life insurance to lock in over $400 million in death-benefit protection that grows with the market but can never drop below zero — perfect for the James family’s long-term philanthropic goals.

6. The Walton Family (Walmart) – $100+ Billion Covered by Life Insurance

The richest family in America didn’t get that way by paying unnecessary taxes. Sam Walton’s children and grandchildren hold some of the largest corporate-owned and private life insurance portfolios ever written — using policies inside dynasty trusts to pay estate taxes for the next 150+ years without ever selling a single share of Walmart stock.

The Common Thread (That Alexander Ewert Helps Clients Copy)

Every single one of these icons uses the same playbook:

• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs)

• Premium financing or highly efficient indexed universal life (IUL)

• Policies owned outside the taxable estate

• Tax-free death benefits that replace the 40–55% the IRS would otherwise take

The result? Their families keep 100 cents on the dollar — forever.

If you’re a business owner, physician, real estate investor, or executive building serious wealth in California or anywhere else, the same strategies made famous by Jordan, Beyoncé, and the Waltons are 100% available to you — right now.

Want to see exactly how much tax-free wealth you could leave your family using the same tools the ultra-wealthy use?

Schedule a quick call with Alexander Ewert at www.alexanderewert.com or DM me directly. The consultation is free, and the math usually shocks people in the best way possible.

Alexander Ewert High-Net-Worth Life Insurance & Estate Planning Specialist Serving clients nationwide from California www.alexanderewert.com