Man Stacks M&M Candies to Break Guinness World Record

An Australian man beat back competitors and reclaimed his Guinness World Records title for the tallest stack of M&M's. The number of candies he stacked to set the record: six.

Guinness World Records announced on Friday that Brendan Kelbie, 22, had set the new record for the tallest stack of M&M's by placing six of the candies on top of each other.

The record was first set in 2016 after Silvio Sabba of Italy stacked four M&M's, according to Guinness. In November 2020, Kelbie, who holds multiple other world record titles, matched Sabba's stack and was given joint claim to the title. But in June, Will Cutbill, of England, beat that record by stacking five M&M's.

The number of M&M's required to set the world record may seem underwhelming. But a video of Cutbill posted to Instagram setting the record showed him fumbling with the candies as his stacks continued to tumble.

"Five M&M's! Five M&M's!" Cutbill exclaimed in the video after finally succeeding.

But Kelbie, who had earlier set a goal of breaking 21 records in 2021, set out to reclaim his title, according to Guinness. And on October 14, 2021, at his home in Queensland, Australia, Kelbie successfully balanced six M&M's.

The video of Kelbie's record-breaking feat showed him methodically placing each of the button-shaped sweets with his finger tips wrapped in tissue.

"I've decided to break this record because I'm a serial record breaker, and I am a versatile world-record holder," he told Guinness.

Kelbie didn't reach his goal of breaking 21 world records in 2021. But he still amassed a collection of 13 titles that included "longest duration spinning a basketball on a pair of spectacles," "most dice stacked into a tower in 30 seconds" and "fastest time to build a 10 toilet roll pyramid" among others.

To achieve the record, the stack must be completely free-standing and hold up for at least 10 seconds. Flavored and peanut M&M's aren't eligible, and only plain chocolate can be used.

Guinness currently has more than 15,000 records online. Officially setting a new record requires multiple pieces of evidence, such as videos, pictures and other documentation. Title seekers must also have a witness submit a statement in support.

Guinness keeps records of more conventional achievements, such as the superlatives racked up by legendary quarterback Tom Brady. Guinness has added more unconventional records. Last year, a Massachusetts-based cannabis operator baked what it considers to be the world's largest pot brownie.

Newsweek has reached out to Guinness for comment.