Sultan Kösen
His extraordinary height, caused by a rare condition, made him a global record-holder and a symbol of gentle strength.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Tallest living man·Birthday: December 10·Millennials
Biography
Sultan Kösen's life changed irrevocably in his teenage years when a pituitary tumor triggered an overproduction of growth hormone, leading to a condition known as acromegaly. From a small farming community in Turkey, he grew to a staggering 8 feet 2.8 inches, a height that brought immense daily challenge but also a unique place in the world. Recognized by Guinness World Records in 2009, he became an international figure, using his platform to raise awareness for gigantism. Kösen's record encompasses not just his height but his massive hands and feet, which also hold titles. His life is a story of adaptation—he required custom-made everything, from clothes to doorways—and of medical triumph, as treatment eventually halted his growth. More than a statistic, Kösen is known for his warm, soft-spoken demeanor, traveling the globe not as a spectacle, but as a gentle ambassador for human difference.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Sultan was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sultan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Sultan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Holds the Guinness World Record for tallest living man since 2009, at 251 cm (8 ft 2.8 in).
- Also holds the record for the largest hands on a living person, each measuring 28.5 cm from wrist to fingertip.
- Underwent groundbreaking treatment that successfully stopped his growth, a rare medical achievement for his condition.
Did You Know?
He worked as a farmer and part-time tailor before being discovered by Guinness.
He is the first man over 8 feet tall to have been married.
He uses crutches to walk, not primarily due to his height, but because of a condition called genu recurvatum that affects his knees.
“The best thing about being tall is I can change light bulbs and hang curtains without a ladder. The worst thing is that I can never find clothes or shoes that fit.”
