The tallest man to ever live was Robert Wadlow from America. He reached a height of 8 feet 11 inches (2.72 meters). At the time of his death at age 22, he was still growing. His casket was 10 feet 9 inches (3.28 meters) long and required twelve pallbearers to carry it.
Interestingly, most of the men on this list are from the United States, although the current living record holder is from Turkey.
Here are the 10 giants who literally stand above history.
1. Robert Wadlow (272 cm) – USA
The “Alton Giant” is a medical phenomenon. Born in 1918 as a normal baby, he began to grow extremely fast due to a hyperactive pituitary gland. By age eight, he was already taller than his father. He was a gentle man who enjoyed celebrity status, but he had little feeling in his legs. He died in 1940 from an infection caused by a poorly fitting leg brace. Guinness World Records recognizes him indisputably as the tallest human ever.
2. John Rogan (267 cm) – USA
John Rogan, born in 1868, is the second-tallest man ever and the tallest African American in history. Unfortunately, due to ankylosis (stiffening of the joints), he could not stand or walk. He moved around in a cart pulled by goats. Despite his enormous height, he weighed only 174 lbs (79 kg).
3. John F. Carroll (264 cm) – USA
The “Buffalo Giant.” His height is an estimate because he suffered from a severe spinal curvature (kyphoscoliosis). If he could have straightened his back, he likely would have been nearly as tall as Robert Wadlow. In a single year, he grew a staggering 7 inches (18 centimeters).
4. Väinö Myllyrinne (251 cm) – Finland
For years, he was the tallest man in Europe. What makes Myllyrinne unique is that he only reached his record height when he was in his thirties (a “second growth phase”). He served in the Finnish Army and is officially the tallest soldier to ever exist.
5. Sultan Kösen (251 cm) – Turkey
This is the current living record holder. Sultan Kösen is just as tall as Myllyrinne was. He is a farmer from Turkey who finally stopped growing thanks to treatment in America (where the tumor in his head was treated with radiation). He also has the largest hands of a living person (28.5 cm).
6. Édouard Beaupré (251 cm) – Canada
The “Willow Bunch Giant” was, unlike many others on this list, incredibly strong. He worked as a wrestler and strongman in the circus; he could lift horses. Tragically, he died at the age of 23 from tuberculosis.
7. Bernard Coyne (249 cm) – USA
Bernard Coyne suffered from “eunuchoid gigantism” (sometimes called daddy-long-legs syndrome). His draft card for World War I stated he was rejected due to his height. At the time of his death, he was still growing.
8. Don Koehler (249 cm) – USA
Don Koehler was unique because he had a twin sister who was of average height (5 feet 9 inches / 1.75 m). The difference of 29 inches (74 centimeters) between the twins is a world record in itself. He lived in Chicago for many years and required two modified double beds to sleep in.
9. Brahim Takioullah (246 cm) – Morocco
In addition to his enormous height, Brahim also holds the record for the largest feet in the world (over 15 inches / 38 centimeters). He requires specially made shoes that cost thousands of dollars. He often uses his fame to raise awareness for people with growth disorders.
10. Morteza Mehrzad (246 cm) – Iran
Morteza is a hero in Iran. Due to a bicycle accident in his youth, his right leg stopped growing, making it shorter than his left leg. He has difficulty walking but is a superstar in sitting volleyball. With the Iranian team, he won gold at the Paralympic Games, where his height allows him to smash over the net while sitting. The International Paralympic Committee calls him one of the most dominant athletes ever.
