1

Most Olympic Gold Medals

Image: Gentrit Sylejmani

While many of us struggle with basic swimming techniques, the incredible swimmer Michael Phelps , rightly nicknamed "The Baltimore Bullet" after his birthplace and amazing speed, is the winner of 23 Olympic gold medals. This achievement gave him the world record for the most decorated Olympic male athlete!

But this feat is not easy. In addition to his natural talent, the athlete must follow a rigorous training program and eat approximately 12,000 calories every day. One thing is for sure: that's a lot of food!

2

World's tallest dog ever

Image: leonides ruvalcabar

American animals are also record-breakers! There's nothing like the joy of returning home to your dog anxiously awaiting you, playfully jumping up to greet you, right? However, it can be a bit scary if your dog happens to be the tallest in the world.

This record was set by a Great Dane from Bedford, Texas, who reached an incredible height of 3 feet and 5.18 inches! His owners attest that despite his huge size, Zeus— a fitting name—was actually a gentle giant.

Sadly, Zeus passed away in 2023 at the age of 5, but he is fondly remembered for his impressive record, his animated personality, and his extraordinary beauty.

3

Most cumulative days in space by a female astronaut

Image: NASA

Ever dreamed of traveling to space? As exciting as it sounds, the reality of space travel can be a real challenge and might intimidate many. But this was not the case for Peggy Whitson , the woman who spent the most cumulative days in space.

In 2017, she set the world record , spending 665 days out there. But that's not all; in 2023 , she extended her title by adding 9 more days as an astronaut with Axiom Space during Axiom Mission-2. That's almost two years without gravity!

4

The longest spacewalk

Image: Kobby Mendez

If the idea of traveling through outer space is scary, imagine the experience of "walking" outside the spacecraft, completely alone in an astronaut suit. It's both exciting and intimidating, right?

NASA refers to this activity as EVA (Extravehicular Activity), more commonly known as a spacewalk . Happily, two Americans hold the record for the longest spacewalk . On March 10, 2001 , Expedition 2 astronauts James S. Voss from Cordova, Alabama, and Susan J. Helms from Charlotte, North Carolina, ventured on an impressive spacewalk that lasted 8 hours and 56 minutes!

5

The largest collection of Star Wars memorabilia

Image: Tommy van Kessel

Let's continue with the space theme, though this time, fictional space.

Born on June 14, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Steve Sansweet has been an avid collector since childhood. His passion for collecting Star Wars memorabilia started the first time he saw a Star Wars movie, and he hasn't stopped since.

How many items do you think he has? 30,000? Maybe 100,000? Nope. Steve has a collection of over 500,000 items from the franchise! So many that he founded a museum, the Rancho Obi-Wan , in Petaluma, California. Would you give it a visit?

6

The largest living tree

Image: Taisia Karaseva

Nature also claims its place in the list of world records. General Sherman is the largest living tree by volume on Earth. This giant sequoia stands tall in Sequoia National Park, among the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California .

Want to know its height? This huge sequoia reaches 274 feet and 3.3 inches! And its width is no less special, with a diameter of approximately 27 feet.

But wait, there's more! The tallest tree in the world is also in California . Hyperion , as it was named, stands 380 feet and 9.7 inches tall in Redwood National Park.

7

Most Big Macs eaten in a lifetime

Image: Brett Jordan

While it's crucial to maintain a healthy diet, no one can deny the joy a good burger can bring to both the stomach and the soul. Don Gorske is a 70-year-old man who took this concept to a new level.

Don, a native of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin , proudly holds the record for the most McDonald's Big Macs eaten in a lifetime: more than 34,000! In 1999 , he first broke the record. However, not satisfied with that feat alone, he extended his title, securing his place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2023 .

If you're worried about his health—and we are too—Don himself calms us down: he explains that he doesn't eat the fries and maintains a daily exercise routine.

8

The longest international land border

Image: Redd F

This is a record shared with our Canadian neighbors. While we knew the border between Canada and the United States was extensive, who would have guessed it's actually the longest in the world?

The world's longest international border between two countries spans an impressive 5,525 miles . That is divided into two parts: the border shared between the continental United States and Canada, and the one shared by the state of Alaska with the neighboring country.

And here are more numbers: there are a total of 13 US states on this long border!

9

The longest TV career for a female entertainer

Image: CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Betty White is a familiar face to everyone who has ever turned on the TV. Born in 1922 in Oak Park, Illinois, the talented actress and comedian has worked passionately from a very young age.

She made her TV debut in 1939 , and since then, she has enjoyed a long and successful career. So long that it earned her a world record for the longest TV career for a female entertainer.

So, how long was it? Not 40, not 50, not even 60 years. Betty delighted our screens for over 74 years! That's what we would call dedication, don't you think?

10

Most consecutive wins on Jeopardy!

Image: 金 运

Jeopardy! has kept viewers glued to their screens for many seasons and for many reasons. Its blend of playful competition and engaging topics makes it simply irresistible.

As you already know, some contestants on Jeopardy! have both the skills and luck to win more than once. But one competitor truly stood out from the rest.

Ken Jennings is a software engineer from Utah who won an incredible 74 times! Can you believe it? His streak began in 2004, and from the moment he started until his 74th win, Ken won $2,520,700, earning the world record for the most consecutive wins.

1

Alexander Hamilton

Image: John Trumbull, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

On January 11, 1757, in the remote Colony of Nevis, British Leeward Islands, a boy was born. He went from having nothing to being a key player in the history of the United States of America. Alexander Hamilton, the illegitimate son of a Scottish trader and a French-English woman, would become George Washington's right hand and one of the nation's Founding Fathers.

At the age of 16, he landed in New York, where he began to study law. But his studies were interrupted when the Revolutionary War broke out. During his lifetime, Hamilton was an influential promoter of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the founder of the nation's financial system, the Federalist Party, the U.S. Coast Guard, and The New York Post .

2

Bob Hope

Image: d

"I left England when I realized I couldn't be king," Bob Hope liked to say. Leslie Townes Hope was so American that his audience was unaware he was actually born in London. When he was five years old, however, his family emigrated to the United States and settled in Cleveland, Ohio.

He began working in show business when he finished high school, appearing in countless Broadway plays, Hollywood films, and television shows. Throughout his more than 60-year career, Hope was not only one of the most influential comedians of his time; he was also one of the most awarded actors in history, the unofficial entertainer of the American troops, and the presenter who hosted the Oscars ceremony the most times.

3

Henry Kissinger

Image: White House Photographic Office, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

During the 20th century, this controversial diplomat played a key role in American politics. However, Heinz Alfred Kissinger was born into a Bavarian Jewish family on May 27, 1923. Escaping Nazi Germany, he emigrated to the United States, where his name was changed to Henry.

Henry Kissinger soon obtained citizenship. He served in the Army, studied at Harvard University, and had a long and active life in our country's politics. During the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations, he worked as a security consultant for various agencies. His reputation led him to be appointed National Security Advisor by President Richard Nixon in 1969, and Secretary of State in 1973, the first person in history to hold both positions simultaneously.

4

Charlie Chaplin

Image: Bain News Service, publisher.Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Charles Chaplin, one of the greatest Hollywood legends, was born in London in 1889. At the age of 20, Chaplin crossed the Atlantic to try his fortune in the United States. It was here that he came up with his signature character, Charlot, an endearing tramp who has become a universal icon.

From then on, Charlot appeared in dozens of films that allowed Chaplin to consolidate his reputation as one of the industry's most beloved actors. In 1972, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded him an Honorary Oscar for his outstanding career. The audience applauded for twelve uninterrupted minutes.

5

Alexander Graham Bell

Image: Harris & Ewing, photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

​​Known for being the inventor of the first patented telephone, Alexander Graham Bell also worked on the development of deaf-friendly systems, was one of the founders of the National Geographic Society, and made great contributions to the U.S. telecommunications industry. Yet, he was born in 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In 1871, Bell settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked as a teacher and tutor of deaf students. His influence on American science and culture was so important that on the day of his death, all telephone services in the United States stopped for one minute in his honor.

6

Samuel Goldwyn

Image: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Films, perhaps the most representative industry of American culture, would not be the same without the contribution of numerous foreigners who settled in California since the beginning of the 20th century. This is the case of Samuel Goldwin, one of the most influential magnates in the history of Hollywood, born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1879.

During his more than 50 years of activity, Goldwyn founded several film studios and produced the first feature film entirely made in Hollywood. His reputation in the industry grew steadily, based on his incredible eye for finding great talent. There is a theater named after him in Beverly Hills, and he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his invaluable contributions to cinema.

7

Joseph Pulitzer

Image: Allen & Ginter, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

This self-made, foreign man became an American media mogul and inspired the world's most prestigious journalism award. Born in 1847 in Hungary, young Joseph Pulitzer emigrated to the United States at the age of 17 without knowing a word of English.

After fighting in the Civil War, Pulitzer began to study law. He soon discovered his talent for journalism. Within a few years, he became a leading national figure in the U.S. Democratic Party, began running the New York World newspaper, and became a pioneer of tabloid journalism.

8

Albert Einstein

Image: Archivo General de la Nación, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite being born in Germany, the most famous scientist of the 20th century ended his days in the United States, where he was able to continue his research after Nazism took power. In 1933, Albert Einstein was visiting our country, and given the context in Europe, he decided not to return to the old continent and renounced his German citizenship.

Einstein accepted a position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, where he continued his scientific work until his death. During his stay in America, he remained active in the academic world and received multiple awards. His scientific legacy remains fundamental to modern physics and the understanding of the cosmos.

9

Madeline Albright

Image: U.S. Department of State, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Madeleine Albright was the first woman in the history of the United States to serve as Secretary of State. What you may not know is that the diplomat was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, as Marie Jana Korbelová. In 1948, Albright immigrated with her family to America and settled in Denver, Colorado.

After graduating from Wellesley College, she worked as a journalist and editor for different newspapers. She later earned her doctorate and began her political career working in the White House. She was a senior advisor to the Democratic Party, and when Bill Clinton became president, she was first appointed Ambassador to the United Nations. A few years later, she became Secretary of State.

10

Alfred Hitchcock

Image: Shamley Productions , Paramount Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The great Alfred Hitchcock began his film career in England, where he was born, but it was in the United States where he was really able to display all his genius. While in Hollywood, he directed more than 30 films, some of which are considered masterpieces to this day.

Although Hitchcock was relatively successful in his country, in 1939, producer David O. Selznick convinced him to cross the pond and settle in our country. And thank goodness he did! The master of suspense is considered one of the most influential directors of all time and is regarded as one of the most important artists of the seventh art.

11

Meyer Guggenheim

Image: Joe Dudeck

The patriarch of the Guggenheim family, known for playing a decisive role in the transformation of the American mining and smelting industries, was actually born in Lengnau, Canton Aargau, Switzerland. Meyer Guggenheim emigrated to the United States in 1847, where he started working as a salesman.

After earning a considerable sum of money buying and selling stocks, he began investing in silver mines. In a short time, he amassed one of the largest fortunes of the 19th century. Meyer died in 1905 in Palm Beach, but his legacy still influences many sectors today, from industry to philanthropy.

12

Levi Strauss

Image: manusama

Is there anything more American than a pair of blue jeans? What started as a strong and durable pair of pants became the garment that revolutionized the fashion market. Worn by miners, cowboys, rock stars, presidents, and men and women all over the world, blue jeans have been a favorite for generations. However, their creator was not born in the United States.

Levi Strauss, the founder of the first jeans manufacturing company, was born in 1829 in Buttenheim, Germany, as Loeb Strauss. In 1847, he emigrated to New York, but when the California gold rush began, he decided to move to the West Coast and open a branch of the family business in San Francisco. And the rest is history!

1

Levi Strauss

Image: Eric Prouzet

Although his name will forever be associated with American business pioneers, Levi Strauss was not born in the United States. That's right! The inventor of the iconic blue jeans was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1829. In 1847, he came to America along with his siblings in search of new opportunities, settling in New York. Eventually, he moved to San Francisco, where his famous company would be founded.

2

Irving Berlin

Image: Sandra Grünewald

While he can be considered one of the most American of Americans, Irving Berlin was actually born in Russia. That's right; the legendary composer and lyricist was born in 1888 in what was then the Russian Empire, and his family immigrated to the US when he was just a child. How lucky for us! Can you imagine life without classics like "White Christmas," "God Bless America," and "There's No Business Like Show Business"? Neither can we!

3

Alexander Graham Bell

Image: Carlos Eduardo

Although he became a naturalized US citizen in 1882, Alexander Graham Bell was born in 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He arrived in the United States in 1871, where he worked as a teacher and researcher. It was in America, in 1876, that he made his most famous invention: the telephone.

4

Elizabeth Taylor

Image: Color Crescent

Elizabeth Taylor, our Cleopatra, wasn't born in the United States. As you probably know, she saw the world for the first time in England in 1932 and moved to America in 1939, just before World War II started. But here's an important detail: Her parents were American! So, she was a US citizen from birth; she just happened to be born overseas.

5

Alfred Hitchcock

Image: Usha Kiran

Yes, Alfred Hitchcock was born in England, but we probably wouldn't have had the pleasure of enjoying cinema classics like Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), Psycho (1960), and The Birds (1963) if he hadn't come to live and work in America. Although he was already a successful director in his home country, Hitchcock decided to come to the United States in 1939, drawn by the promise of Hollywood's growing film industry.

6

Audrey Hepburn

Image: Paige Johnson

Although she became an American citizen in the 1950s and won our hearts on the big screen, the legendary Audrey Hepburn was actually born in 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. In 1945, she settled in England, where she began taking ballet classes and started landing modeling and acting roles. Finally, in 1951, she came to America to star in the Broadway production of Gigi .

7

Isaac Asimov

Image: Phillip Glickman

Science fiction as we know it wouldn't be the same without the incredible work of Isaac Asimov. However, we may never have had the opportunity to enjoy his brilliant writing if his family hadn't immigrated to America. Asimov was born in 1920 in Petrovichi, Russia. His parents decided to move in 1923, just a year after the Soviet Union was established. At only 3 years old, he arrived in the US, and by the age of 8, he was a full American citizen.

8

Charles Chaplin

Image: Mimi Di Cianni

The unforgettable Charlie Chaplin was born in London in 1889. Before he turned 20, he arrived in the US as a young performer with a vaudeville company. Here, he found fame and became a global icon of silent film. Surprisingly, even after living and working here for over 40 years, he never officially became an American citizen, but Americans embraced him wholeheartedly all the same.

9

Albert Einstein

Image: WikiImages

Albert Einstein, one of the most famous scientists in the world, was born in Germany. And he chose to be American! He was born in Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879, and later became a US citizen in 1940.

His first trip to America was in 1921, when he came to New York as a renowned scientist. Then, in 1933, he returned for good and accepted a position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where his former house still stands.

10

Joseph Pulitzer

Image: Jorien Loman

Joseph Pulitzer revolutionized the press in America and around the world, but before becoming a renowned US citizen, he lived in Hungary, the place where he was born in 1847. At the age of 17, he left Europe in search of greater opportunities and arrived in the US in 1864. Here, he went on to become a pioneering journalist and newspaper publisher, even giving his name to the prestigious awards honoring excellence in journalism and the arts.