How Many People Have Reached the Summit of Everest
Hold on. Eleven thousand sounds huge, right? Like, “that’s a small town” huge. But when you remember that millions of people climb small hills for fun every weekend, it’s actually a tiny, tiny club.
Think of it this way: you have a better chance of being struck by lightning twice than summiting Everest. Or getting a hole-in-one. Or finding a four-leaf clover that’s also a winning lottery ticket.
But here’s the kicker: that number isn’t the whole story. Not even close. Because one person can count for multiple summits.
The Repeat Offenders
Some people just can’t stay away. They get to the top, take a selfie, and then think, “You know what? This was fun. Let’s do it again, but more frostbitten.”
The record holder? A sherpa named Kami Rita. This absolute legend has summited Everest 30 times as of 2026. Thirty. Times. I can’t even commit to a coffee order that many times.
So when you read “11,000 summits,” remember that includes Kami Rita’s thirty. And maybe a few hundred other sherpas who treat the summit like a Tuesday errand.