A Record-Breaking Life
When Jeanne Calment was born in 1875, Alexander Graham Bell had just invented the telephone. When she died in 1997, people were using cell phones and the internet. Jeanne lived 122 years and 164 days — the longest verified lifespan in history — and her life became one of the most documented cases of human longevity.
She met Vincent van Gogh, watched the Eiffel Tower being built, and became a global media figure.
A Family Life in Arles
Jeanne was born in Arles, southern France, to a shipbuilder father and a mother from a miller’s family. She married Fernand Calment, a distant cousin, in 1896.
The couple lived above Fernand’s family drapery shop, where Jeanne’s life was centered around sports, music, and social activities. Jeanne and Fernand had one daughter, Yvonne, born in 1898. When Yvonne died of pleurisy in 1934, Jeanne helped raise her grandson, Frédéric.
From Local Figure to International Fame
World War II left little impact on Jeanne’s life in Arles. Fernand died in 1942, reportedly after eating spoiled cherries. Jeanne remained in their apartment until she was 110. At that point, she moved to a nursing home, where her longevity attracted increasing attention.
In 1988, Guinness World Records recognized her as the world’s oldest living person. In 1995, she was confirmed as the oldest person ever with verified documents, after surpassing the age of previous record-holders.
Life, Diet, and Daily Routine
Jeanne attributed her health to olive oil, chocolate, and occasional port wine. She smoked cigarettes until age 117 and exercised by doing daily stretches. Even in her later years, she was known for her sharp mind and clear memory.
Jeanne became a media star, appearing in documentaries and even recording a spoken-word music CD at age 121. She died on August 4, 1997, at the nursing home in Arles where she had lived for over a decade. She remains the longest-living person whose age has been independently verified by modern standards.
She met Vincent van Gogh, lived through both World Wars, saw the invention of the airplane, and became the oldest verified person on Earth.
Jeanne Calment’s life stretched 122 years — a story of remarkable survival, loss, and global attention…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/5wQdoqWR55
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) July 20, 2025