João Marinho Neto | |
|---|---|
 Marinho Neto on his 113th birthday in 2025 | |
| Born | 5 October 1912 (age 113 years, 126 days) |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Known for |
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| Spouse(s) | Josefa Albano dos Santos (died 1994)Antonia Rodrigues Moura |
| Children | 7 |
João Marinho Neto (born 5 October 1912) is a Brazilian supercentenarian who, at the age of 113 years, 126 days, is the world's oldest verified living man following the death of John Tinniswood from the United Kingdom. [1]
João Marinho Neto was born in Maranguape, Ceará, on 5 October 1912 to a farming family. While in his infancy, his family moved to Apuiarés. [2] By age 4, he began working in the fields caring for cattle and harvesting fruits [3] from trees of Juazeiro. [4] Marinho Neto was married to Josefa Albano dos Santos (1920–1994), with whom he had four children: Antônio, José, Fátima, and Vanda. [2]
His wife inherited land in Fazenda Massapê ("Massapê Farm", translated in English), where he farmed corn and beans. He also raised livestock; [1] chickens, cattle, goats and pigs. [4] Later, he had three more sons, Vinícius, Jarbas, and Conceiçao, with Antonia Rodrigues Moura. [2] In spite of difficulties from severe droughts in the region, he was able to create a stable livelihood. [5] As of November 2024, Marinho Neto had six living children, 22 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. [1] Marinho Neto lives now in a nursing home which was necessary because he developed vision problems. [6] A coordinator in the nursing home said foods Marinho likes most are coffee (for breakfast), fruit, brown sugar and free-range chicken. [7]
On 21 August 2025, Marinho Neto sent a congratulatory message to Ethel Caterham (born 21 August 1909), the world's oldest living person, on her 116th birthday, marking the first ever documented communication between the oldest man and oldest woman at any given time. [8]
On 13 January 2026, Marinho Neto sent a congratulatory message to Yolanda Beltrão de Azevedo (born 13 January 1911), the oldest living person in Brazil, on her 115th birthday. [9]
Marinho Neto attributes his longevity to having loved ones around him and ensuring he spent his life surrounded by good people. [10] In 2024, a nurse at the nursing home where Marinho Neto lives stated that he has no comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes, and also has no history of stroke or cancer. [11]