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In this article, the authors propose a theoretical model of the relationship between physical height and career success. We then test several linkages in the model based on a meta-analysis of the literature, with results indicating that physical height is significantly related to measures of social esteem ( =.41), leader emergence ( =.24), and performance ( =.18). Height was somewhat more strongly related to success for men ( =.29) than for women ( =.21), although this difference was not significant. Finally, given that almost no research has examined the relationship between individuals' physical height and their incomes, we present four large-sample studies (total N = 8,590) showing that height is positively related to income ( =.26) after controlling for sex, age, and weight. Overall, this article presents the most comprehensive analysis of the relationship of height to workplace success to date, and the results suggest that tall individuals have advantages in several important aspects of their careers and organizational lives.

“Short people got no reason, to live.”

—Randy Newman, Short People 1

“I feel as tall as you.”—Ellis Meredith, U.S. suffragist

There seems to be a societal impression that taller people are more successful in life. Although it is tempting to dismiss this belief as a folk tale, research suggests that some elements of life are easier for taller people because height is a socially desirable asset (Roberts & Herman, 1986). For...