Celebs Who Lived Past 90 Despite Breaking These Unspoken Health Rules

Many celebrities who have lived to their 90s and beyond have arguably proven that longevity isn't as cut-and-dried as it appears. On paper, it seems simple: eat a nutrient-rich diet and stay active as you age. Now, research has consistently shown that those two fundamentals can indeed go a long way in increasing lifespan. However, several icons who lived to their 90s have refused to stress about the little things related to the basics and instead focused on cultivating a healthier lifestyle overall. Unsurprisingly, even research has shown that longevity can't be solely achieved through diet and exercise, as there are several other variables at play. 

For instance, one study published in Immunity & Ageing in 2016 pointed out that prior studies had indicated that genetics could account for about 25% of longevity. Meanwhile, another article published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity in 2023 found that even factors like exposure to the sun, other environmental factors, and stress levels could also influence lifespan. The authors also noted that longevity might be affected by the efforts made to keep the brain sharp as we age.  

Additionally, in a  March 2026 chat with The New York Times, health psychologist Deepika Chopra explained how negative thinking could affect people as they age, saying, "When people repeatedly imagine the future as limited or declining, which a lot of people aging do, the brain begins to kind of reinforce those expectations." Chopra noted that training the brain to focus on the positives could create excitement about what lies ahead as we age. With all this in mind, it seems that the celebrities who achieved longevity without rigid rules were onto something.

During a January 2014 appearance on "The Queen Latifah Show," Betty White joked that hot dogs were the secret to her good health (via YouTube). Over time, research has shown that eating processed meat could seriously impact cognitive health. However, the beloved icon's approach to life helped her live to be 99. 

During a January 2021 interview with People, Betty White said that the key to staying young forever was having a good sense of humor. One 15-year follow-up study published in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2016 found that women with high scores on the cognitive component of sense of humor had a 48% lower risk of all-cause mortality, a 73% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and an 83% lower risk of death from infection.

Everybody knows that there are plenty of real health benefits to eating broccoli. In fact, one study published in Frontiers in Nutrition in 2024 found that eating broccoli one to two times per week was linked to a 32%–43% lower risk of all-cause mortality. However, while George H.W. Bush was well aware of these upsides, he still refused to eat the green. In the 2019 documentary "The Secret History of Air Force One" (via People), presidential journalist Kenneth Walsh shared that the former president was a lifelong broccoli hater and had banned the green from Air Force One meals. 

Still, Bush lived to be 94, possibly thanks to his love for sports.  As a 2010 article from Forbes highlighted, the former president remained physically active into his later years, although he did eventually require the assistance of a cane following a hip replacement surgery.

Despite knowing what happens to the body when you eat fast food every day, Warren Buffett still regularly has an item off the McDonald's breakfast menu: two sausage patties; a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit; or a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit (via CNBC Make It). According to Business Insider, the iconic businessman drinks five cans of Coke daily and regularly treats himself to Dairy Queen ice cream, hot dogs, fries, and candy. 

During the 2023 interview with Business Insider, Buffett said that he believed that happiness was key to achieving longevity. Then, he went on to stress that he felt far happier when he ate all the foods he enjoyed. Even with his unconventional diet, he appears to be thriving in his 90s.

In an interview with the New Potato (via Town & Country Magazine), Iris Apfel shared that she was thriving after her retirement because she had cultivated numerous healthy habits, including eating a nutrient-dense diet and giving up smoking. However, the fashion icon broke an unspoken health rule by not exercising frequently. Instead of swearing off alcohol altogether, Apfel had also allowed herself to have a drink every now and then. 

Meanwhile, in a September 2021 People interview, Apfel shared that she didn't go by a "wellness plan" and instead just chose to follow the basics like swearing off unhealthy food. That philosophy undoubtedly worked well for Apfel, who lived to be 102.

Many people believe that you're more likely to die early if you eat certain foods, including those that contain sugar. However, Mel Brooks seemingly didn't take that belief to heart, as he told Bon Appétit in May 2013 that he liked to take his tea with cream and sugar. 

During a January 2026 People interview, Brooks shared his simple longevity secret, saying, "I think laughing keeps you healthy and happy." One 15-year follow-up study published in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2016 found that men who scored high on the humor scale were 74% less likely to die of an infection. Brooks appeared to be in good spirits as he approached his centennial birthday in 2026.

It is a commonly held belief that as we age, we need to slow down in our professional lives for the sake of our health. However, Norman Lear clearly did not subscribe to that idea. During a June 2022 conference presented with CNN, Lear was quoted as saying, "I like getting up in the morning with something on my mind, something I can work on ... to some conclusion." Notably, one study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health in 2016 found that even working a year beyond the typical retirement age could reduce the risk of all-cause mortality by 9% to 11%. Lear lived to be 101.

Similar to Norman Lear, Bob Hope defied the idea that retirement was important for health. In a December 1987 interview with the Chicago Tribune, the then-84-year-old comedian shared that if he were to face physical ailments that made it difficult for him to do his job, he would start working behind the camera as a writer or director. Staying true to his word, Hope continued to pick up work in his 90s. With his phenomenal work ethic, Hope lived to 100. Notably, an issue brief published by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College in 2021 found that working lowered the mortality rate from 8% to 6% for men in their 60s.