Walter Orthmann: In a world where job-hopping every two or three years has become the new normal, the story of Walter Orthmann feels almost mythical. At 100 years old, the Brazilian centenarian holds the Guinness World Record for the longest career at a single company, an astounding 84 years and 9 days at Industrias Renaux S.A., now RenauxView.
Orthmann began his journey on January 17, 1938, at just 15. Growing up as the eldest of five children in a struggling family, he took up work to support his home. His fluency in German helped him secure a job as a shipping assistant, one that unknowingly would shape the rest of his life. “Back in 1938, kids were expected to work,” he told Guinness World Records. “As the oldest son, my mother took me to find a job at 14.”
From there, his rise was powered by discipline, curiosity, and a genuine love for learning. Known for his sharp memory and adaptability, Walter moved from shipping to administration, and eventually to sales manager, a role in which he thrived. “In less than a week, I filled the production with orders worth three months,” he recalled.
But Orthmann’s story is not just about one man’s dedication, it’s a reflection of a work culture that once valued stability and loyalty. Earlier, companies invested in employees, and employees stayed because they felt valued. Today, corporate life is a different landscape: long hours, toxic environments, declining work-life balance, and widespread burnout. Passion often gets lost somewhere between deadlines and deliverables.
Amid this modern chaos, Walter’s extraordinary career stands as a reminder of a time when purpose mattered more than paychecks. “I never thought of breaking a record,” he says. “I just found joy in what I did.”
A rare story of loyalty, one we may never witness again in today’s restless job culture.