Robert Wadlow’s Shoe Size: How Big Is the Largest Feet Ever Recorded?

Some people complain about the size of their feet, which often changes over time. A pair of feet far from the average size of the general population makes a person struggle to find shoes in shops. As a result, they must get their shoes custom-made, especially if their feet are unusually large. Such was the experience of Robert Pesing Wadlow, the American with the largest recorded feet ever.

What Exactly is Robert Wadlow's Shoe Size?

Robert Wadlow's shoe size was an astonishing 37AA in the US size chart. In this measurement, the letters indicate width, with A being narrow and E being wide. It is equivalent to UK size 36 or approximately European size 75.

It is no surprise that Wadlow owned a larger-than-normal pair of feet. The taller a person is, the bigger their feet will also become. Also known as the Alton Giant, he set the Guinness World Record for the tallest man in history.

Robert Wadlow was born in Alton, Illinois, on February 22, 1918. He measured only 1 foot 8 inches at birth but was already an adult's height by age 5. By age 12, he had already measured 6 feet 5 inches, and upon reaching the age of 22, he had grown to a staggering 8 feet 11.1 inches until his death. His condition is attributed to pituitary gigantism, which causes abnormal growth in children.

Since his feet grew up to 47cm, every custom-made pair of shoes cost him US $100, which was already a large sum of money during his time. In 1937, the International Shoe Company provided his shoes for free.

He passed away on July 15, 1940, due to an infection in the ankle fracture that developed while performing an exhibition in Manistee, Michigan. It was reported that he continued to grow at the time of his death.

Most of Robert Wadlow's shoes can still be displayed across the U.S. because he never wore them. While still active, he worked as a roving ambassador for the Peters Shoe Company. This job required him to visit a town, give the local shoe shop a promotional size 37 shoe, and leave for his next destination. One shoe store that displays Robert Wadlow's shoes is the Square Deal Store in Des Plaines, Illinois.

What is Pituitary Gigantism?

Inside the human brain is a small pituitary gland that affects many areas of a person's body and overall health. This pea-sized gland is also called the "master" gland of the endocrine system since it is the one that controls the functions of the other endocrine glands. One of the primary roles of the pituitary gland is the production of specialized hormones, including the human growth hormone (HGH), which influences a person's height.

Once the pituitary gland produces excess hGH, it can result in gigantism, characterized by accelerated growth of muscles, bones, and connective tissues. Although rare, this condition can affect any child with growth plates in the bones that have not fused yet. It is more common in males than in females.

The excess production of hGH is commonly caused by noncancerous tumors on a child's pituitary gland. It can also be due to pituitary hyperplasia or the unusual condition where the pituitary gland becomes enlarged.