11 Coolest Guinness World Records Broken in California

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California is where you will find some of the most creative and impressive people out there, not to mention some of the wackiest. And so it comes as no surprise that some major records have been broken right here in our beloved Golden State, and have secured their place in the famous Guinness World Records. Whether they are weird, impressive, or outrageously creative, broken records are an achievement of a lifetime; ones that will get people talking for years to come. 

If you are interested in seeing these records in person, you’re in luck, as there is a Guinness World Records Museum in Hollywood, Los Angeles! So, what exactly are our Californian record breakers known for?

Most Impressive Guinness World Records

World Record for Most Oscar Nominations 

California is home to the heart and soul of the entertainment industry - Hollywood; therefore, it’s only fair we start this list with world record breakers found in the film sector. As things stand, John Williams is the only living person to have received the most Oscar nominations, a whopping 52 of them! The record was achieved on January 13 of 2020. A legend of a composer, John Williams has worked on some absolute classics such as Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and counting.

Most Expensive Guitar Sold at Auction

The legendary Kurt Cobain’s “MTV Unplugged” guitar was purchased by Peter Freedman for a jaw-dropping $6,010,000 at Julien’s auctions in Los Angeles on the 19th of June 2020. The beautiful guitar was used by Cobain during the recording of the iconic Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged performance in November 1993.

Oldest Individual Living Tree

Trees are one of the most mystical and mysterious beings on our planet. Often associated with wisdom and secrecy due to their unusually long lifespans, they bring peacefulness and beauty to our surroundings. 

Scientists have discovered a plethora of ancient findings within California’s wilderness, and this tree is among these incredible discoveries. Named Methuselah, this Great Basin bristlecone pine tree is estimated to have lived 4,854 years and was found in the White Mountains of Inyo County in 1957. It is quite rare to find an individual tree exceeding the 3,000-4,000 year mark, making this ancient tree an absolutely astonishing discovery.

The Smallest Handmade Chess Set 

This intricately detailed chess set was made by an Armenian artist by the name of Ara Davidi Ghazaryan in Los Angeles. The set measures 0.32x0.32 and was made on the 22nd of August in 2020. The artist is known for his usage of jewelry and Armenian culture in his expression of art. The tiny chess set was made from 18k yellow and white gold Armenian apricot wood and rests on a frame made of Platinum 19k yellow gold, rubies, and diamonds. Care for a match on the smallest chess set?

Longest Music Video 

When we think of longer music videos, we think of 8-10 minute videos. The band Twenty One Pilots had different plans in mind, however, as the music video for their song “Level of Concern” is recorded to have lasted 4,264 hours. The duo made use of fan content to create a “never ending” music video. The song was streamed repeatedly on Youtube, with new fans popping in to add on to the length of this huge project.  

Although the stream did not last forever, it did play for 117 days 16 hours 10 minutes and 25 seconds. The previous record breaker was Pharrel Williams with his 24 hour music video of “Happy”. Broken world records are not to be messed with. 

Largest Parade of Subaru Cars 

An impressive number of 1,751 Subaru vehicles gathered at Subiefest in Costa Mesa, California to break the record for the Largest Parade of Subaru Cars on October 4th of 2020. A wholesome event this was, as participants donated an equivalent of 458,200 meals to Second Harvest Orange County and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. 

Largest Permanent Monopoly Board

Head over to San Jose and you’ll find the largest record-breaking permanent Monopoly board. Fans of the famous board game will find this quite exciting, as a 31x31 ft board is what awaits. It was made open to the public on the 26th of July 2002. What’s so fun about this comically large board is that the tokens, dice, hotels, and houses that come with the game are also scaled up to match the size of the granite Monopoly board.

Weirdest Guinness World Records 

Longest Fur on a Cat

This next one may be one of the weird world records to break, yet it certainly is one of the cutest. Jami Smith’s fluffball Sophie has managed to enter the book of broken records in 2o13, with 10.11 inches of fur. To put this peculiar feat into perspective, the average length of a cat’s fur is no more than two to five inches in length. 

Most People Chanting Online Simultaneously

Continuing on with the list of weird world records, have you ever thought about how many people can chant online at the same time? Well, the record for this peculiar achievement is 1,857 people, where students of Silicon Andhra chanted in unison for a good five minutes.