Interesting Pieces of World Record Trivia

As a kid, many people flip through the Guinness Book of World Records to learn about unusual feats and strange events. Today, that world record trivia lives online and we got curious, too. In our research of interesting records and facts, we came across these awing, unique, and inspiring world records.

The Longest-Lasting Lightbulb – 122 Years

Since the record holder lightbulb was installed in Livermore, California, you might think that the Lawrence Livermore National Lab created it, but that’s not the case. During the years 1899 to 1900, Shelby Electric Company worked on its fantastic feat, designing a 60-watt Mill type incandescent carbon filament light bulb at its Shelby, Ohio manufacturing plant. It shipped the bulb to the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department Station 6, where it has continued to emit an orange glow today.

Called the Centennial Light, it surpassed its 121 years of continuous service on December 22, 2022, and cemented its place in the annals of world record trivia. It probably confounds electricians that today’s lightbulbs barely last a few months. It also proves the old adage that they just don’t make them like they used to make them.

The Longest Game of Volleyball – 85 Hours

Do you want to attend volleyball summer camp, but worry that you lack the stamina for the constant matches? It can’t be as arduous as the longest-ever game of volleyball, which lasted 85 hours! According to world record trivia, the indoor volleyball marathon playing volleyball (indoors) included members of the SVU Volleyball in the Netherlands. The fierce game took place at the Sports Centre Uilenstede in Amstelveen, Netherlands, spanning the dates December 27 to 30, 2011.

Instead of a really long game, the players competed in 63 non-stop matches. That required playing 338 sets. As the sides competed, they racked up a total of 14,635 points.

The Youngest High School Graduate – 6 Years Old

Some feats, genetics takes care of, such as the IQ and curious intellect of Michael Kearney, who graduated from high school at the age of six years old. Born on January 18, 1984, Kearney listed his hobbies as gameshows and anthropology. The American who then completed college at age 10, went on to earn a Master’s degree at 18.

Although he only attended San Marin High School in California for the 1990 school year, he went down in their history books, too. Kearney earned his Associate of Science in Geology at age eight, then his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of South Alabama two years later. He matriculated to Vanderbilt for his master’s work, earning a degree in computer science from Vanderbilt.

Besides teaching at the university level, Kearney put his love of gameshows to work for himself. He appeared on the shows Gold Rush and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? earning more than $1 million from the competition. His example might encourage many parents to look into early learning centers for their kids.

Official Oldest High School Graduate – 106 Years Old

Conversely, some individuals never give up their quest for education, like the truly inspiring Fred Butler and Lela Burden. In March 2013, the late Mr. Butler graduated high school in Beverly, Massachusetts, from Beverly High School. He received an honorary degree after a lifetime of learning in private business, the military, and public works.

A tough family situation meant that Butler had to leave school after eighth grade to take a full-time job. When World War II broke out, he joined the military. After his service, he went to work for the City of Beverly Water Department, laying pipe. Throughout his life, he accumulated a vast storehouse of knowledge, a fact well-known by all in his city, including then-Mayor Bill Scanlon who declared March 4th “Frederick J. Butler Day.”

Although the official record still belongs to him, in May 2014, the late Lela Burden, then 111 years old finally received her diploma from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia. Unlike Mr. Butler, she did get to attend high school, completing most of her studies — until the flu epidemic of 1918 occurred. The schools in her area canceled classes to keep the students healthy. Butler did not sit at home, doing nothing; she landed multiple jobs and went to work full-time.

Eventually, the government and medical community got the flu epidemic under control and classes resumed. Mrs. Butler did not return to school though because of work commitments. To keep her mind sharp and remain abreast of world events, she read the newspaper cover to cover each day. At her graduation, she talked about major events that had occurred in her lifetime, such as her memories of the sinking of the Titanic.

The Fastest Car – 330 mph

You hope the brakes worked perfectly on the world’s fastest car since stopping on a dime going 330 mph seems unlikely. This bit of world record trivia delves into the feats of mechanics and automotive innovation. In 2023, the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut broke the world record for the fastest car. A few vehicles had inched pasted the 300 mph mark, but Koenigsegg kept at it and topped them all.

How did the automaker ramp up the power in its Jesko Absolut to hit the 330 mark? It paired a twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 with a nine-speed transmission. The vehicle can capably create 1,600 horsepower and 1,106 pound-feet of torque. The engineers at Koenigsegg designed the sleek, aerodynamic auto with a 0.278 drag coefficient.

The Highest Bail Amount – $3 Billion

If you get into trouble, you cross your fingers for a personal recognizance bail bond, but that did not happen for Robert Durst, a real estate heir. He had to pay a $3 billion bail bond, landing him in world record trivia. What did Durst do to end up in the record books?

In 2003, someone murdered Durst’s wife and authorities charged him for the crime. Originally, the court set a bail bond of $1 billion, but the heir skipped bail, tampered with evidence, and when the law found him, the courts increased his bail to the enormous sum of $3 billion. Eventually, a jury acquitted him of the murder.

Judges don’t typically set bonds that high, but in Durst’s case, the accused man had such ample assets that the court worried he would abscond with himself, which he did. If any of our readers ever need a bail bond set, know that public recognizance bonds top the list in commonality. Only serious crimes like murder, rape, or drug dealing charges usually result in monetary bond needs.

The Deepest Hole – 23,000 ft.

You might think that your dog digs deep holes or remains impressed by Elon Musk’s forays into drilling, but Russian scientists interested in learning about the earth’s layers dug the Kola Superdeep Borehole in 1970. At first, they paused at 23,000 feet, to study the many layers of rock comprising earth. The scientists continued to delve deeper to unearth geological mysteries, reaching the unfathomable depth of 40,230 feet, but that second depth only science, not world record trivia, documented.

Let’s put that depth into perspective. Kola Superdeep Borehole reaches 7.6 miles into the earth. That makes it taller than Mount Everest and deeper than the Mariana Trench. The typical water well stretches 100 feet in depth, requiring a water well pump to bring the water up.

The hole revealed fossils of single-celled marine organisms geologically dated to 2 billion years in age. Other findings, such as a lack of ‘Conrad discontinuity’ transition from the granite layer to the basalt layer, and the presence of liquid water much deeper than anyone thought possible. As they drilled further the density of the rocks and the hot temperatures caused problems. In 2005, the Soviets capped their superdeep hole with a blue-and-white cap and have never returned to the project, instead focusing on space exploration.

The Most Expensive Necklace – $200 Million

Shopping for pendant necklaces for the holidays might leave you reexamining your budget, but Wallace Chan set the bar pretty high when he created the necklace known as A Heritage in Bloom. In 2015, Chan entered world record trivia when he had the 507.55ct Cullinan Heritage rough diamond cut to create the 104ct diamond that forms the center of the necklace. That jewel forms about one-third of the 383.40ct of diamonds in the multi-tiered necklace.

In total, the necklace uses more than $200 million worth of jewels. It features a butterfly motif complimented by flowers formed of diamonds. The massive necklace covers the throat, neck, decolletage, and part of the stomach of the wearer.

The Largest Pool – 1,042,000 sq. ft.

Not to be outdone by the Russians and their superdeep hole, the folks in Egypt chose to build the world’s largest swimming pool to enter world record trivia. Technically, it resembles a kidney-shaped moat because an island sits within it. The City Stars in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, might qualify as a new wonder of the world. It covers 1,042,000 square feet or 23.9 acres. It opened in 2015, serving those who stay at the resort that constructed it.

The pool, also called a lagoon, sits in the Sinai desert, three miles inland from the Gulf of Aqaba and 312 miles south of Cairo. It cost $5.5 billion to build and offers swimming, kayaking, and windsurfing. is in the Sinai desert 312 miles south of Cairo and three miles from the coast of the Guests of the resort can enjoy kayaking, windsurfing, and swimming in this saltwater lagoon. We wouldn’t want to see the bill from their pool maintenance service.

The Oldest Living Person – 116 Years Old

Besse Cooper reached the amazing age of 116 and entered the history books and world record trivia. Mrs. Cooper attributed her long lifespan to enjoying her life, eating a healthy diet that avoids junk food, and minding her own business. In an interview, she said she refused to allow herself to “get bogged down in the drama and the junk of life.” She continuously stays busy, setting goal after goal for herself, even in adult assisted living.

She also surrounds herself with inspiring people. The centurion approaches life with enthusiasm and curiosity. She counseled high school graduates with the advice, “You can do most anything you set as a goal in life.”

The Most Expensive Divorce – $38 Billion

Don’t enter world record trivia the way Amazon founder Jeff Bezos did. He comprises one-half of the most expensive divorce ever. He and his then-wife Mackenzie Scott divorced in 2019 after 26 years of marriage and divided Amazon, which Bezos founded during their marriage. She had a good divorce lawyer because the now re-married Scott received a four percent stake in Amazon.

At the time, the stock had a value of more than $38 billion. It has increased since then, leaving Bezos’ ex-wife with a net worth of $61.2 billion. According to Mrs. Scott, she plans to donate at least half of it to charity.

Entering the World Record Book

You don’t need to graduate high school at age six or live well past 100 years to get into the Guinness annals. The book offers world records for nearly everything, from the biggest bubblegum bubble blown to the most pancakes eaten. You can enter the history books by choosing what you do well and do it the longest, furthest, highest, etc.

Other ideas include building the largest of something or doing something with other people, such as the volleyball players in The Netherlands did. The Guinness Book of World Records offers a diverse number of ways that you can enter history. Flip through a copy at the library or order one from the bookstore Bezos started that grew to one of the world’s largest department stores.

And, if you have yet to achieve a certain goal, like graduating high school, remember Butler and Burden, who learned continuously throughout life, finally graduating past the age of 100. Both lived full lives and enjoyed fulfilling careers despite a lack of formal education. You can reach your goal at any age, if, as Cooper says, you set a goal and work towards it.