Grabbing the attention of doctors and the public not just for his extraordinary longevity, but especially for his lifestyle that defies traditional medical advice.
The world's oldest person has become Brazilian Luiz Carlos dos Santos. According to the portal G1, dos Santos was born on February 15, 1908, which makes him a hot contender for global records. The previous official record for the oldest living person was held by Englishwoman Ethel Caterham, who celebrated her 116th birthday last August.
The Brazilian record-holder and former agricultural worker has been living in a senior home in the town of Elói Mendés, Goiás since 1971. Despite his impressive age, he enjoys excellent health, even though he’s been an active smoker for years. His daily routine includes his favorite cookies and three cups of coffee, with the last one enjoyed regularly at 7:30 PM.
😯 🇧🇷 Luís Carlos dos Santos, known as Mr. Luizinho, from Elói Mendes (MG), is officially recognized as the oldest man in Brazil at 118 years old. pic.twitter.com/wjqSf8i9Oi
— République (@republiqueBRA) February 25, 2026
The director of the senior home, Maria Caroline de Sousa Vitorianová, confirmed to the media that the senior doesn’t take any prescription medications, only regular vitamins. According to her, health records show no serious illnesses, and he even came through the recent COVID-19 pandemic without complications.
Beloved Mascot of the Facility
On a personal note, despite never marrying or having children, he doesn’t receive any family visits at the facility. While his speech isn’t what it used to be due to his age, he has excellent hearing and actively communicates with others through gestures and nodding.
The care home staff are particularly fond of him. The facility's legal director, Luciano Lopes, calls him the mascot of the institution and a very sweet person whom every new employee desires to meet out of respect.
