World’s oldest man says two things are ‘secret’ to living to 113 | Weird | News

The world’s oldest living man has revealed the secret behind his long life after celebrating another birthday. João Marinho Neto, who was born in Brazil, turned 113 on Sunday, October 5, with a big celebration organised by his family and friends.

Neto holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest man alive, a title he received in November 2024 following the death of the previous record holder, Briton John Tinniswood, who died at the age of 112. Guinness confirmed João Neto was “112 years 52 days old at the time” of Tinniswood’s demise.

Now, the world’s oldest man has reached the age of 113 and celebrated the milestone with “a big party his loved ones planned for him”, as reported by Guinness. He is the 26th oldest man ever to have lived.

When quizzed about the secret to a long life by the world record’s experts, Neto attributed it to having loved ones around him and ensuring he spent his life surrounded by good people.

Born in Maranguape, a municipality in Ceará, Brazil, on October 5, 1912, the supercentenarian is now the last surviving man born in that year.

His family were farmers and by the age of four, João was already “out working with his father in the fields, taking care of the cattle and harvesting fruit.”

He went on to father seven children, and now boasts 22 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

In an Instagram post, Guinness celebrated the 113th birthday of João Marinho Neto with a series of images.

The caption read: “Happy 113th birthday to João Marinho Neto, the world’s oldest man.

“The Brazilian is celebrating the massive milestone today with a big party his loved ones planned for him.

“João has been loving life ever since he was named the oldest man living in November last year, following the death of the UK’s John Tinniswood at age 112.”

While Neto holds the title for the oldest man in the world, he isn’t the oldest person – that honour belongs to the UK’s Ethel Caterham, who celebrated her 116th birthday in August.

Neto honoured her on her birthday, posing for a photo to be sent to her.

In the picture, he can be seen donning sunglasses and holding a blue sign that reads “Ethel Feliz Aniversário” – Portuguese for “happy birthday, Ethel” – alongside several photos of Ethel.

According to LongeviQuest, which is “the global authority on maximum human longevity”, Neto’s birthday wishes marked another fascinating milestone.

The organisation stated: “This marks the first documented communication between the world’s oldest woman and the world’s oldest man, and the first recorded birthday greeting exchanged between supercentenarians in different countries.”

LongeviQuest experts informed Guinness that Neto enjoys telling people: “There are no men older than me, just women!”