How Guinness World Records Grew From a Book to a Worldwide Brand

Guinness World Records, the iconic record-keeping franchise, turns 70 this year, marking seven decades since its unlikely beginnings in 1955.

What started as a way to settle a pub argument, when Guinness breweries director Hugh Beaver struggled to find out which was Europe’s fastest game bird, has since evolved into a global institution.

To answer such questions, Beaver hired London twins Norris and Ross McWhirter, who compiled the first Guinness Book of Records, which went on sale in August 1955 and topped Christmas bestseller lists.

Since then, the brand has grown into an empire spanning annual books, television specials, live events, and even museums. Records range from awe-inspiring human feats, like tallest people or longest planks, to quirky moments like Otto the bulldog skateboarding through a human tunnel or a llama named Caspa clearing the highest bar jump.

For many record holders, the title has been life-changing. Professional cardstacker Bryan Berg said his 1992 win let him pursue his passion full-time, while gymnast-turned-actor Najee Richardson described record-setting as “chasing the impossible.”