Meet The World's Tallest Man: Sultan Kösen

This is Sultan Kösen, and he's the tallest man alive, according to the Guinness World Records. The 38-year-old is from Turkey and, per official records, measured 8 feet, 2.8 inches in 2018. That's over a foot taller than Shaquille O'Neal! Not only does Kösen have a giant smile, but giant hands too!

This gentle giant holds a 2nd record, the largest hands on a living person. From his wrist to the tip of his middle finger, Sultan's hands measure 11.22 inches! "I started growing really tall when I was 10 years old...there was a tumor around my pituitary gland that was pressing against my nerve," Kösen said.

While health issues might have caused his height to skyrocket, Sultan has remained in good spirits despite everyday objects being a fraction of the size that he needs them to be. For example, items such as soda cans, cars, staircases, and basketball hoops all make Kösen look larger than life!

With his gigantic stature, Kösen's shoe size doesn't exist in everyday stores. That's why the record-breaker's entire wardrobe and home are custom-made to him! "I'd like the chance to find some decent clothes that fit! I've already had a suit made for me, and...I now own a pair of jeans made especially for me!" he told the Guinness World Records.

Being the world's tallest man has also allowed Sultan to embark on some amazing journeys such as traveling around the world and meeting other record-holders, including Jyoti Age, the world's smallest woman, and Chandra Dangi, the smallest man. But, above everything else, Kösen has created a reputation for himself.

Since his induction to the Guinness World Records in 2009, the world learned of Sultan's biggest wish: "I want what everyone else wants. A wife, a family, a nice home...My dream is to be married," he said. "Everyone is very different, but at the end of the day, we are all the same people. Being different is definitely something that I live with. I can see everyone from a really long distance...and I'm also great at hanging curtains and changing lightbulbs." What a stand-out guy!