8 Feet 3 Inches: The Current Tallest Man In The World Alive And His Extraordinary Life In 2025

As of late 2024 and early 2025, the official title of the Tallest Man in the World Alive belongs to Sultan Kösen, a Turkish farmer whose towering height has captivated global audiences for over a decade. Standing at a staggering 251 cm (8 ft 2.82 in), Kösen is one of only ten confirmed people in history to reach a height of eight feet or more. His life is a fascinating blend of international celebrity and the profound daily challenges that come with living at such an extreme scale, a journey made possible by modern medical intervention.

The Guinness World Records title holder has leveraged his unique stature to travel the world, meeting dignitaries, fellow record-holders, and using his platform to raise awareness about the condition that caused his immense growth: pituitary gigantism. His story is not just about a number in a record book, but a testament to human resilience and the advancements in endocrine medicine.

Sultan Kösen: Complete Biography and Profile

Sultan Kösen's journey from a small farming village in Turkey to a global icon is a remarkable one. His immense size is the result of a rare medical condition that caused an overproduction of the human growth hormone (HGH).

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• Full Name: Sultan Kösen
• Title: Tallest Living Man (Guinness World Records)
• Current Height: 251 cm (8 ft 2.82 in)
• Date of Birth: December 10, 1982
• Place of Birth: Alibey, Mardin Province, Turkey
• Nationality: Turkish (of ethnic Kurdish descent)
• Medical Condition: Pituitary Gigantism and Acromegaly
• Other Records Held: Largest Hands on a Living Person (28.5 cm or 11.22 in from wrist to fingertip)
• Occupation: Farmer, Public Figure, Cultural Ambassador
• Key Milestone: His growth was successfully halted in 2012 by a revolutionary gamma knife surgery at the University of Virginia Medical School.
• Recent Activity (2024): Met with the world's shortest woman, Jyoti Amge, in Irvine, California, in February 2024.

Kösen was born to parents of average height, and his growth spurt did not begin until he was around 10 years old. He was unable to complete his education due to his height and initially worked part-time as a farmer to support his family.

The Science Behind Sultan's Stature: Gigantism and Acromegaly

The extraordinary height of Sultan Kösen is rooted in a medical condition known as pituitary gigantism, which later transitioned into acromegaly in his adult life.

What is Pituitary Gigantism?

Gigantism occurs when the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain, produces an excessive amount of growth hormone during childhood, before the growth plates in the bones have fused. This uncontrolled growth leads to an abnormally large stature. In Kösen's case, this was caused by a benign tumor affecting his pituitary gland.

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The Challenge of Acromegaly

As a person with gigantism reaches adulthood, the condition is often referred to as acromegaly. While the long bones stop growing in length, the excess growth hormone continues to cause the thickening of bones and enlargement of soft tissues, including the hands, feet, and facial features. This is why Kösen also holds the record for the largest hands on a living person.

The continuous growth and immense size put significant stress on his body, leading to mobility issues and the need to use crutches. The most crucial medical intervention in his life occurred in 2010 when he underwent a pioneering procedure—gamma knife surgery—at the University of Virginia Medical School. This non-invasive treatment successfully halted the production of the excess growth hormone, preventing him from growing any further and saving his life.

The Daily Realities and Global Encounters of a Giant

Life at 8 feet 3 inches presents unique, everyday challenges that the average person never considers. From the mundane to the extraordinary, Kösen's existence is a constant negotiation with a world built for smaller people.

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The Struggle for Normalcy

Kösen has often spoken openly about the difficulties he faces. Finding clothing and shoes that fit is a lifelong struggle, requiring bespoke tailoring for items like his jeans (with a 126 cm inseam) and custom-made size 60 (US size 28) shoes. Travel is another major hurdle; fitting into a standard car or an airplane seat requires immense effort and discomfort. The physical toll of his size also means he relies on crutches for walking and uses a mobility scooter for longer distances.

A Platform for Awareness and Global Meetings

Despite the physical hardships, Kösen's record-holding status has given him a unique platform. He has traveled to over 127 countries as a cultural ambassador for Turkey, using his fame to promote tourism and raise awareness for gigantism.

One of his most iconic and recent public appearances took place in February 2024, when he reunited with Jyoti Amge of India, the world’s shortest living woman, who stands just 62.8 cm (2 ft 0.7 in) tall. The striking difference in their heights—a gap of nearly 6 feet—created a powerful and viral image, highlighting the incredible diversity of the human form as recognized by Guinness World Records.

The Legacy of Giants: From Wadlow to Kösen

While Sultan Kösen holds the title of the tallest man alive, he is not the tallest person in recorded history. To understand his place in the pantheon of giants, we must look at the historical record and the other exceptionally tall men living today.

The Tallest Man Ever: Robert Wadlow

The undisputed record for the Tallest Man Ever belongs to Robert Pershing Wadlow (1918–1940) from the United States. When last measured just 18 days before his death, Wadlow stood at an astonishing 272 cm (8 ft 11.1 in). Wadlow's continuous growth, which was never medically halted, ultimately contributed to his premature death at the age of 22.

Other Notable Living Giants (Entities)

Sultan Kösen is not the only person alive today who towers over the world. Several other men are recognized as being over 8 feet tall, though Kösen remains the official record holder due to Guinness’s strict verification standards. These notable figures include:

• Brahim Takioullah (Morocco): Standing at 246 cm (8 ft 1 in), Takioullah is also famous for holding the record for the world’s largest feet at 38 cm (1 ft 3 in) long.
• Morteza Mehrzad (Iran): Also measuring 246 cm (8 ft 1 in), Mehrzad is a celebrated figure as the tallest man in Iran and a three-time Paralympic gold medalist in sitting volleyball (2016, 2020, 2024), demonstrating exceptional athletic prowess despite his height-related challenges.
• Dharmendra Pratap Singh (India): Reported to be 246 cm (8 ft 1 in), he is often cited as the tallest living Indian man, though his height has not been officially verified by Guinness World Records.
• Olivier Rioux (Canada): At 7 ft 9 in, Rioux was named the tallest teenager in the world in 2021 and is currently the tallest player in NCAA basketball history for the Florida Gators, a testament to how modern medicine allows tall individuals to pursue sports careers.

Sultan Kösen's life continues to be a source of wonder and inspiration. His stature, once a debilitating medical condition, has been transformed into a global identity, allowing him to connect with people and share his unique perspective on a world that is always looking up.