Final answer:
The benefit paid to Paul's beneficiary will be $489,500.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the benefit that will be paid to Paul's beneficiary, we need to consider the outstanding loan amount and the accumulated interest. Whole life insurance policies typically have a provision that deducts any outstanding loans and accumulated interest from the death benefit.
In this case, Paul took a $10,000 loan against the cash value of his $500,000 whole life insurance contract. Since he passed away before repaying the loan, the outstanding loan amount of $10,000 and the accumulated interest of $500 need to be deducted from the death benefit.
Therefore, the benefit paid to Paul's beneficiary will be $(500,000 - 10,000 - 500) = $489,500.