Detroit man breaks Guinness World Record with 11,578-pound rubber band ball
Claude P. Moore spent 11 years building the massive creation that was officially weighed at Belle Isle in August 2026.
Claude P. Moore, a resident of Detroit, has broken the Guinness World Record for the largest rubber band ball, according to the Times of India. The creation weighed 11,578 pounds, or 5,251.69 kilograms, when it was officially verified at Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan, in August 2026.
The project began in 2015 when Moore started winding together just two rubber bands. Over the next 11 years, the ball grew so large that it required a dedicated storage container after outgrowing his garage. To weigh the object, volunteers used a crane to lift the ball while Guinness World Records adjudicator Chloe McCarthy confirmed the weight.
Moore said, “The only excuse for failure is the lack of effort.” He noted that the idea of building large rubber band balls originated during his childhood while he spent time in medical offices due to hemophilia.
The new record surpasses the previous mark of 9,032 pounds, or 4,097 kilograms, set by Joel Waul in Florida in 2008. McCarthy praised Moore's dedication, stating that many would have abandoned a project requiring such long-term commitment.
During the ceremony, Moore distributed signed copies of his 2021 book, 'My Life with Hemophilia', to raise awareness of the condition. Guinness World Records stated that Moore hopes to pursue further ambitious goals, including working towards ending world hunger.