World’s Heaviest Man of His Time, Born in 1926 - Video

Robert Earl Hughes, once billed as the heaviest man in the world, was a sideshow performer whose immense size of over 1,000 pounds drew crowds. He struggled with a condition that ultimately claimed his life at just 32.

Born in 1926 in Missouri, Hughes was an average-sized child, but by early childhood his weight began increasing at an alarming rate. Doctors later believed he suffered from a malfunctioning pituitary gland.

By his teens, Hughes weighed several hundred pounds. By adulthood, his weight was estimated at over 1,000 pounds, making him one of the heaviest people ever recorded. He was one of the heaviest people in history to be able to walk, relying on a custom cane and massive, custom-built clothing.

Realizing his size could be monetized, he worked in carnivals and traveling roadshows, often selling photographs of himself to crowds. He was recognized for his intelligence and friendly demeanor, often engaging with visitors.

In 1958, while traveling with a carnival in Baylis, Hughes fell seriously ill. Efforts to transport him to a hospital were complicated by his size—he had to be moved by a specially reinforced truck. He died shortly after, with kidney failure.

His custom made casket measured about 7 feet long and 4 feet wide. He was mourned by more than 2,000 at his funeral services.

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