Human fascination with extreme height has persisted for centuries. Many people wonder, “Who is the tallest person in the world, and how tall is the tallest person in the world?” The answer lies in the extraordinary lives of a few individuals who grew to incredible heights due to rare medical conditions. Below is a ranked list of the top 10 tallest people in recorded history, based on verified or medically documented heights. Each entry includes the person’s name with height, quick facts, and a brief overview of their background, health conditions, and cultural impact. The tallest person ever in the world was Robert Wadlow standing at 272 cm (8 ft 11.1 in). 

• Top 10 Tallest Mountains in the World 2025
• The World’s Tallest Buildings
• The Longest Rivers in the World

Robert Wadlow – 8 ft 11.1 in (272 cm)

• Full Name: Robert Pershing Wadlow
• Country: United States
• Lifespan: 1918–1940

Robert Wadlow was the tallest person in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. Standing at an astonishing 8 feet 11.1 inches tall, he was often called the “Alton Giant” or “Giant of Illinois.” Wadlow’s exceptional height was caused by hypertrophy of his pituitary gland, leading to an overproduction of human growth hormone. Remarkably, even at the time of his early death, there was no indication that his growth had stopped. He weighed 439 pounds and required leg braces to walk, yet never used a wheelchair. Despite his health challenges, Wadlow became a celebrity—he toured with the Ringling Brothers Circus and later as a goodwill ambassador for a shoe company, as crowds marveled at the tallest man in the world. He tragically died at age 22 from an infection caused by an ill-fitting ankle brace, but he left behind an enduring legacy and a life-size statue in his hometown as a reminder of the tallest person ever recorded.

John “Bud” Rogan – 8 ft 9 in (267 cm)

• Full Name: John William Rogan
• Country: United States
• Lifespan: 1867–1905

John “Bud” Rogan was recorded at 8 feet 9 inches tall and is recognized as the second-tallest person in history. Born in Tennessee to formerly enslaved parents, Rogan is also the tallest person of African descent ever documented. His extraordinary height was due to gigantism, and in his teenage years he developed ankylosis, a condition that caused his joints to fuse. As a result, Rogan could not stand or walk by the 1880s and spent his adult life in a goat-drawn cart, making him the tallest non-mobile person ever recorded. Despite profound mobility challenges, he maintained a friendly, playful demeanor and made a modest living by sketching and selling portraits and postcards of himself at train stations. Rogan declined offers from carnivals and sideshows, preferring to live quietly in his community. He passed away in 1905, and his family buried him under concrete to prevent grave robbers from disturbing the tallest man of his era. Rogan’s life illustrates the hardships that often accompanied being the tallest person in the world in the 19th century, including health complications and social curiosity.

John F. Carroll – 8 ft 7½ in (263.5 cm)

• Full Name: John Francis Carroll
• Country: United States
• Lifespan: 1932–1969

John F. Carroll of Buffalo, New York, stood at a towering 8 feet 7½ inches when accounting for his severe spinal curvature. He was known as the “Buffalo Giant” and is considered the third-tallest human in medical history. Carroll’s extraordinary height was attributed to acromegalic gigantism, but he also suffered from kyphoscoliosis—an extreme curvature of the spine that dramatically affected his stature. His standing height was closer to 8 feet even, although doctors estimated his true height would have exceeded 8 feet 7 inches if his spine were straight. Carroll’s growth was rapid and erratic; at one point, he reportedly grew seven inches in a few months. This abnormal growth, combined with his spinal condition, led to many health difficulties. Despite these challenges, John Carroll’s case was extensively documented in medical literature, bringing scientific attention to the effects of extreme gigantism. He was not a public show performer and remained largely out of the spotlight, but medical researchers closely followed his condition until his death at age 37.

Leonid Stadnyk – 8 ft 5.5 in (257 cm)

• Full Name: Leonid Stepanovych Stadnyk
• Country: Ukraine
• Lifespan: 1970–2014

Leonid Stadnyk’s height was reportedly 8 feet 5½ inches, which briefly made him known as the tallest living man in the world in the mid-2000s. A resident of rural Ukraine, Stadnyk began growing rapidly after brain surgery at age 14 stimulated a pituitary tumor causing acromegaly. Leonid lived a private life as a farm worker, avoiding the spotlight—he even refused official measurements by Guinness World Records. Because he declined to be measured under Guinness’s strict protocols, the title of tallest living man reverted to others. Stadnyk found his extreme height more burden than blessing, as daily life in a world built for average-sized people was difficult. He had to stoop through doorways, custom-make clothing and shoes, and relied on a cane for walking support. Leonid Stadnyk died in 2014 at the age of 44, reportedly from a brain hemorrhage, and his legacy highlights the health challenges and verification complexities of modern giants

Väinö Myllyrinne – 8 ft 3 in (251 cm)

• Full Name: Väinö Myllyrinne
• Country: Finland
• Lifespan: 1909–1963

Väinö Myllyrinne was one of the tallest Europeans ever recorded, reaching about 8 feet 3 inches in his thirties. Born in Helsinki, Myllyrinne experienced two major growth spurts—one in youth and another in adulthood—and had acromegalic gigantism. He served in the Finnish Defence Forces and is often cited as the tallest soldier in history. His hands were exceptionally large, measuring about 15.7 inches across, and he was recognized as the tallest living man from 1940 until his death. Väinö traveled as a professional wrestler and performer in the 1930s, yet was remembered as a gentle giant who later settled on a farm. He lived to age 54, demonstrating that, with care, a person of extraordinary height could enjoy a relatively long life.

Édouard Beaupré – 8 ft 3 in (252 cm)

• Full Name: Joseph Édouard Beaupré
• Country: Canada
• Lifespan: 1881–1904

Édouard Beaupré, the “Willow Bunch Giant,” was a Canadian circus and strongman performer who reached about 8 feet 3 inches. He grew rapidly due to pituitary gigantism and became a touring attraction, demonstrating feats of strength such as lifting horses. He briefly tried professional wrestling but his extreme size made movement difficult. Beaupré’s health deteriorated rapidly, and he died at just 23 years old from complications of tuberculosis. Even after death, his body was displayed for years before proper burial, reflecting the era’s fascination—and exploitation—of the tallest man in the world.

Sultan Kösen – 8 ft 2.8 in (251 cm)

• Full Name: Sultan Kösen
• Country: Turkey
• Lifespan: 1982–present

Sultan Kösen is the tallest person in the world alive today, officially measured at 8 feet 2.8 inches. His growth accelerated in adolescence due to a pituitary tumor causing gigantism, halted only after surgery in 2010. Kösen’s height causes mobility issues—he uses crutches—but he has embraced life as a global celebrity, holding records for largest hands and feet in addition to height. He has traveled worldwide for events, raised awareness about acromegaly, and even married in 2013. Sultan’s positive outlook offers a modern perspective on living as the tallest man in the world.

Vikas Uppal – ~8 ft 3 in (251 cm, unverified)

• Full Name: Vikas Kumar “Vicky” Uppal
• Country: India
• Lifespan: 1986–2007

Vikas Uppal was often reported as India’s tallest man, with an unofficial height near 8 feet 3 inches. Media accounts described him as still growing in his late teens, likely due to a pituitary tumor. Uppal gained national fame and even appeared briefly in Bollywood, but he avoided medical treatment and did not undergo Guinness verification, leaving his exact height in some dispute. He died at age 21 during surgery to remove his tumor. Vikas Uppal’s short life highlights the physical strain and public attention that come with extreme height in modern India.

Don Koehler – 8 ft 2 in (249 cm)

• Full Name: Donald A. Koehler
• Country: United States
• Lifespan: 1925–1981

Don Koehler, a traveling salesman from Illinois, was recognized as the tallest living man from 1969 until his death. He had acromegaly and a twin sister of average height, creating a record height difference between twins. Despite challenges like hitting doorframes and finding clothes, Koehler maintained a jovial attitude and made occasional media appearances. He lived to 55, longer than many giants, but ultimately died of heart complications, demonstrating the strain that extreme height places on internal organs.

Bernard Coyne – 8 ft 2 in (249 cm)

• Full Name: Bernard A. Coyne
• Country: United States
• Lifespan: 1897–1921

Bernard Coyne suffered from eunuchoidal infantile gigantism, leading to continuous growth and an adult height of at least 8 feet 2 inches. His enormous stature exempted him from World War I service. Coyne led a quiet rural life, wearing size-25 shoes and relying on custom clothing. He died at age 24 from health complications related to his condition and was buried in an extra-large coffin. Coyne’s story underscores how many early-20th-century giants lived away from public fame, with their extraordinary height recorded mainly by local physicians and draft boards.

Giants in Perspective

The lives of history’s tallest individuals reveal shared threads of pituitary disorders—gigantism and acromegaly—driving unrelenting growth and straining the body. Most giants faced health problems, joint pain, and shortened lifespans, with only a few living beyond mid-adulthood. Society’s response ranged from circus exhibitions to respectful admiration, showing an enduring curiosity about the tallest man in the world. Whether touring with circuses, shunning publicity, or embracing modern media attention, each of these giants navigated a world not built for their height. Their stories answer the question “how tall is the tallest person in the world?” with remarkable numbers, but also with personal narratives of resilience, challenge, and an unforgettable presence in human history.

FAQ

Who is the tallest person in the world ever recorded?

Robert Wadlow tops the list at 8 ft 11.1 in (272 cm), making him the tallest man in the world in verified history.

How tall is the tallest person in the world alive today?

Sultan Kösen holds the current record at 8 ft 2.8 in (251 cm).

What causes people to grow so tall?

Most extreme height cases stem from pituitary disorders like gigantism or acromegaly, which trigger excess growth hormone.

Are there any women among the top 10 tallest people?

The tallest verified woman, Zeng Jinlian at 8 ft 1.75 in (248 cm), narrowly misses this top-ten list but is the tallest woman ever recorded.

Do extremely tall people live shorter lives?

Many giants faced joint issues, heart strain, and other health problems, leading to shorter lifespans; a few, like Väinö Myllyrinne, lived into their fifties.

‍