Jeanne Calment, officially recognized as the oldest verified person in recorded history, lived an extraordinary life that spanned more than a century. When she passed away in 1997 at the age of 122, her longevity captured global attention—especially because her lifestyle did not resemble what many consider a “strictly healthy” routine.
Despite regularly eating chocolate, enjoying wine, and smoking for most of her adult life, Calment remained in relatively stable health well into her later years. Her story continues to fascinate researchers studying longevity, healthy aging, and lifestyle factors that may contribute to an exceptionally long life.
A Record-Breaking Life Confirmed by Science
Born in 1875 in Arles, southern France, Jeanne Calment lived to 122 years and 164 days. Her age has been extensively verified through birth certificates, census records, marriage documents, and historical photographs. As a result, her longevity is widely accepted by demographers, historians, and medical researchers, and she holds the title of world’s oldest person in the Guinness World Records.
To this day, she remains the only human being confirmed to have lived beyond 119 years, placing her in a category entirely her own.
A Witness to Modern History
Over the course of her long life, Jeanne Calment lived through an astonishing number of historical milestones. She saw the rise of electricity and the telephone, the construction of the Eiffel Tower, two World Wars, the development of automobiles, and the arrival of the internet age.
She also lived through major global events such as the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the terms of multiple U.S. presidents, and the growth of the American Civil Rights Movement—making her life a living bridge between centuries.
Active and Independent Well Past 100
Remarkably, Calment remained physically active deep into old age. She continued riding a bicycle into her 90s and, on her 100th birthday, personally walked through her hometown to thank neighbors who had sent birthday wishes.
Her eating habits were equally surprising. She reportedly consumed large amounts of chocolate, enjoyed dessert daily, and drank port wine in moderation. Even more unexpected, she smoked cigarettes from her early 20s until the age of 117.
When asked about her health at 120, she famously joked that although her eyesight, hearing, and physical sensations had declined, “everything’s fine.”
What Longevity Experts Say Was Her Real Advantage
After her death, interest in Jeanne Calment’s longevity only increased. While many focus on diet and physical activity, experts studying her life point to another key factor: stress resistance.
Medical researcher Jean-Marie Robin, who worked closely with Calment’s physician on her biography, suggested that her psychological resilience played a major role. In interviews, he described her as unusually calm and emotionally stable.
He explained that she appeared to be biologically less affected by stress and often followed a simple philosophy: if something could not be changed, it was not worth worrying about.
A Lesson in Healthy Aging
Even in her final years, Jeanne Calment retained a sharp sense of humor, once joking that she had “only one wrinkle—and she was sitting on it.” Her outlook on life, combined with continued mental engagement and low stress levels, is now frequently cited in discussions about wellness, aging gracefully, and long-term health.
While her lifestyle may not align with modern health guidelines, her story highlights an important takeaway from longevity research: mental well-being, stress management, and staying socially and mentally active may be just as important as diet and exercise.
Jeanne Calment’s life remains a remarkable example of how attitude, resilience, and engagement with life can leave a lasting legacy—one that continues to inspire conversations about healthy aging and quality of life well into old age.