Jeanne Calment, the longest-lived human ever recorded, died in 1997 at 122 years and 164 days—a record still unmatched. Born in 1875 in France, her age was rigorously verified and remains recognized by Guinness World Records.
She lived across three centuries, witnessing world-changing events from the construction of the Eiffel Tower to the rise of the internet. Remarkably active, she cycled into her 90s and stayed mentally sharp well past 100.
Calment’s lifestyle defied convention: she loved chocolate, drank wine, and smoked until age 117. Researchers believe her secret wasn’t diet, but an extraordinary resistance to stress. As she put it, “If you can’t do anything about it, don’t worry about it.”
Her life remains a powerful reminder that calm, humor, and resilience may be key to aging well.
