According to the Guinness World Records, Brazilian João Marinho Neto is currently the oldest living man in the world. He celebrated his 113th birthday on October 5th. Neto revealed that the secret to his long life is having good people around him.
Neto was born on October 5, 1912, in the town of Maranguape in the state of Ceará, Brazil, as reported by the Guinness World Records website on October 5. He is the last surviving male born that year.
Born into a farming family, Neto moved with his parents to the rural area of Apuiarés. At the age of 4, he started working in the fields with his father, taking care of cattle and picking fruits.
Neto was married to Josefa Albano dos Santos and they had 4 children. Dos Santos passed away in 1994. Neto later had 3 children with Antonia Rodrigues Moura.
He currently has 6 surviving children, 22 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
After the previous record holder for the world’s oldest living man, John Tinniswood from the UK, passed away at the age of 112 in November 2024, Neto inherited the title of the world’s oldest living man.
As of October 1 this year, Neto is the 26th oldest man in history. He celebrated his 113th birthday on October 5 with his family.
Neto has previously said that the secret to his longevity is surrounding himself with good people and keeping those he loves close.
LongeviQuest is a database that tracks the world’s long-lived residents. Experts at the organization have noted that Neto likes to tell people, “There is no man older than me in the world, only women!”
He recently congratulated Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest living person at 116, on her birthday through LongeviQuest. His family took a special photo for him to mark the occasion.
This marks the first known interaction between the world’s oldest living man and woman.
Previously reported by Daijiworld, Caterham celebrated her 116th birthday on August 21, retaining the title of the world’s oldest living person.
When asked about the secret to her longevity by the Salisbury Journal, Caterham replied, “Seize every opportunity as you never know what it may bring; maintain a positive attitude and everything in moderation.”
The Guinness World Records states that the oldest person ever recorded was Jeanne Louise Calment from France, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old before passing away in 1997.