Age is just a number. Sure, as your body ages, things start to hurt, you get more wrinkles, and things don’t quite work like they used to. But age won't define who you are, what you've achieved, or what you can still accomplish.

Remarkable senior citizens have defied stereotypes and attained success in the later stages of life. Their life stories affirm that age is merely a number, and showcase how purpose, determination, and passion can fuel extraordinary achievements.

From entrepreneurial ventures to artistic endeavors and athletic feats, seniors can rediscover their untapped potential and achieve anything they've put their heart into. And their successes will serve as a testament to the limitless possibilities awaiting those who dare to chase their dreams.

As these successful seniors show, aging gracefully is really to live with purpose and make the most of life.

1. Colonel Harland Sanders
Born September 9, 1890

Colonel Harland Sanders was a persistent and determined entrepreneur. Before creating the iconic Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant chain, Sanders had a varied career, from a fireman to a lawyer to a gas station operator. It wasn't until he was 65 that he established the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant that we know today as KFC. Nine years and 600 franchises later, he sold his share for millions.

2. Doris Self
Born September 18, 1925

Doris Self made her mark in the gaming world in the 1980s by earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the "oldest video game champion." In the 2007 Guinness World Records, Self was recognized as the world's oldest video game competitor.

3. Estelle Getty
Born July 25, 1923

Estelle Getty gained widespread fame at 63 for her role as Sophia in the TV series "The Golden Girls," for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Before landing the role of a lifetime, Getty struggled as an actress.

4. Grandma Moses
Born September 7, 1860

Born Anna Mary Robertson Moses, she discovered her talent for painting at the age of 78. Her folk art captured the essence of rural life and became highly acclaimed, even featured at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Her late-blooming artistic career is an inspiration to aspiring artists of any age.

5. Harriette Thompson
Born March 27, 1923

Harriette Thompson showcased incredible resilience by running her first marathon at 76. Despite battling cancer, she continued to participate in marathons, completing her 15th marathon in San Diego at 91, securing her place as the second-oldest marathon runner in U.S. history.

6. Laura Ingalls Wilder
Born February 7, 1867

Laura Ingalls Wilder found her literary success later in life. She penned the beloved "Little House on the Prairie" series at age 65, drawing from her own experiences growing up in the American Midwest. Her books later inspired a cherished television series of the same title.

7. Mohr Keet
Born August 31, 1913

In 2010, World War II veteran Mohr Keet set the record for oldest bungee jumper at 96 after braving the harrowing 708 ft drop at Bloukrans Bridge in Western Cape, South Africa.

8. Toni Morrison
Born February 18, 1931

Toni Morrison, celebrated for her profound exploration of the Black experience in novels like "The Bluest Eye," "Sula," "Song of Solomon," and "Beloved," didn't achieve widespread recognition until 1993. At the age of 62, she made history as the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

9. Tony Bennett
Born August 3, 1926

At 95, music icon Tony Bennett has set a Guinness World Record as the oldest person to release an album of new music. The new album, called "Love for Sale," was released in collaboration with Lady Gaga.

10. Yuichiro Miura
Born October 12, 1932

Yuichiro Miura proved that age is no barrier to achieving remarkable feats. In 2003 at the age of 70, Miura became the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. He broke this record in 2013 after climbing Everest's summit at the age of 80. This achievement is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.