The largest lion living in capitvity was an African lion named Rutledge, born May 28th, 1991, of the Oaklawn Farm Zoo. August 1997 was a historic day at Oaklawn, the day Rutledge was placed in the 1997 Guiness Book of World Records. He was then officially the worlds largest lion in captivity. Sadly all good things have to come to an end. On February 3rd, 2009 Rutledge passed away. He lived almost 18 years.