I was going to say it was higher than previously stated.
A guy jumped out of one with a parachute and set records too.
Here it is from Guinness:
On 24 October 2014, after ascending to a height of 41,422 m (135,898.68 ft) above Roswell, New Mexico, USA, attached to a helium-filled balloon, Google’s Senior Vice President Alan Eustace (USA) was released to set a new exit altitude record, as verified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) on 14 April 2015.
Seems like the free-assent record for a balloon altitude record would have to include the ride up to that parachute jump from over 100,000 feet.
But, perhaps the “balloon flight” must include a takeoff and (safe) landing from the same balloon for an altitude record?
Wow. Just like the X-15 project in the 1960s. The pilots actually got astronaut wings. Why are all the things we did 50 years ago suddenly so cutting edge again?