Oldest Person To EVER Live: Jeanne Calment Holds World Record, Living To Be 122 Years Old

The oldest person to ever live - that can be verified at least - is Jeanne Calment, a French woman who lived to be 122 years old.

Mary Josephine Ray, the oldest person living in the United States, died today at 114 years, 229 days, prompting some to be curious of the world record.

Records clearly show that Calment was born in Arles, France, on Feb. 21, 1875, and she died in Arles on Aug. 4, 1997.

Calment apparently had a brother who lived to 97, her father lived to 93 and her mother to 86.

According to a CNN report of her death , Calment credited her long life to wine, a diet rich in olive oil, and her sense of humor. "I will die laughing," she said.

A public health researcher who studied Calment said she was in good health in her 122nd year, besides being mostly blind and deaf.