It’s a weird, tiny club. Honestly, it’s probably the most exclusive fraternity on the planet. As of early 2026, the roster of all living US presidents is remarkably small, consisting of just five men. We’ve recently seen the end of an era with the passing of Jimmy Carter in late 2024—the man made it to 100, which is just wild—leaving us with a group that spans decades of American history, from the high-flying nineties to the chaotic present.
You’ve got Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and the current guy, Donald Trump. That’s it. Five people who know what it’s like to carry the "football" and wake up to the President's Daily Brief. But what most people get wrong is thinking they all sit around in some wood-panneled room sharing secrets. In reality, their lives after the West Wing are a bizarre mix of extreme wealth, heavy security, and—occasionally—some pretty intense personal friction.
The Current Lineup: Who’s Still on the List?
Right now, the age gap in this group is narrowing. Except for Obama, who is still basically a "young" man in presidential terms at 64, the rest of the club is pushing deep into their late 70s and 80s.
Joe Biden, having wrapped up his term and handed the keys back to Donald Trump in early 2025, is now 83. He's technically the oldest living president. Trump is right on his heels at 79. Then you have the "class of '46"—Clinton and Bush—who were both born in the same summer of 1946 and are currently 79.
It's kinda fascinating when you think about it. Three of the five living presidents were born within weeks of each other.
- Bill Clinton (79): The elder statesman of the Democratic party, though he’s slowed down a bit lately.
- George W. Bush (79): The painter-in-chief. He mostly stays out of the fray at his ranch in Crawford.
- Barack Obama (64): The media mogul. Between Netflix deals and podcasts, he’s probably the most "culturally" active.
- Joe Biden (83): The recent retiree. He’s spent the last year largely out of the public eye, resting in Delaware after a grueling 50-year career.
- Donald Trump (79): The exception. He’s the only one currently back in the Oval Office (his second non-consecutive term), which makes the dynamic of the "Presidents Club" even more awkward than usual.
The Myth of the "Presidents Club"
There’s this romanticized idea—mostly fueled by the book The Presidents Club by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy—that these guys are all best friends. That they call each other for advice when a crisis hits.
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That used to be true. Sorta.
Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton famously became like father and son. They raised millions for tsunami relief and Katrina victims. But today? Not so much. The political polarization that’s tearing the country apart hasn't spared the former commanders-in-chief. While Bush 43 and the Obamas are famously friendly (you've probably seen the videos of "W" giving Michelle Obama cough drops), the relationship between Trump and the others is icy at best.
Actually, "icy" might be an understatement. Since Trump's return to office in 2025, the traditional shows of unity—like the joint appearances for the 250th anniversary of the country or library dedications—have become logistical nightmares.
What They Actually Do All Day
When you aren't the leader of the free world anymore, what do you do with that much adrenaline?
George W. Bush took up oil painting. He’s actually gotten pretty good, focusing mostly on portraits of veterans and world leaders. He’s the guy who decided that once he left the stage, he was off the stage. You won't see him on cable news criticizing his successors. It’s a "policy of silence" he’s stuck to for over fifteen years.
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Obama, on the other hand, is building a mini-empire. The Obama Foundation is massive, and his production company, Higher Ground, is winning Oscars. He’s trying to influence the culture, not just the politics.
Then there’s Bill Clinton. For years, he was the "Explainer-in-Chief," but health scares and the shifting tides of the MeToo movement have made his legacy more complicated. He spends a lot of time on his foundation and, frankly, just being a grandfather.
The Security Bubble
You can't just go to Starbucks. Even as a former president, you have a Secret Service detail for life. It’s a gilded cage. Every time Barack Obama wants to go for a kitesurfing session on a private island, there’s a team of agents in sunglasses nearby. This "bubble" is one of the hardest things for them to adjust to.
Joe Biden is currently navigating this transition back to "civilian" life. After four years as President and eight as VP, he hasn't driven a car on a public road in over a decade. Imagine that.
The Money Question: How Former Presidents Get Rich
Being a former president is incredibly lucrative. It’s a business.
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- The Pension: They get a lifetime pension (currently around $230,000 a year).
- The Books: This is where the real money is. Obama’s book deal was worth upwards of $60 million.
- The Speeches: A single 45-minute speech can net them $200k to $500k.
- The Library: They have to raise hundreds of millions for their presidential libraries, which basically serve as monuments to their time in office.
Why the Current Group is Historically Unique
We are living through a weird historical anomaly. Usually, former presidents fade away. But because Trump is back in office and Biden just left, the overlap of their legacies is constant. We haven't had a "comeback" president like this since Grover Cleveland in the 1890s.
It changes the math of all living US presidents. Usually, the former presidents try to stay "above" the day-to-day bickering. But when one of your members is the current guy—and he’s actively dismantling or challenging the legacies of the other four—the "club" basically stops meeting.
What You Can Learn from the "Presidents Club"
If you're looking for actionable insights from how these five men handle their post-power lives, focus on Legacy Management.
- Control your narrative: Like Obama, don't wait for historians to write your story. Use modern media to tell it yourself.
- Find a "Second Act": Bush 43’s pivot to painting shows that you can find peace by doing something completely unrelated to your previous high-stress career.
- Maintain the "Long View": Jimmy Carter’s life (passing away at 100) proved that what you do after your peak years can sometimes define you more than the job itself. He was arguably the most successful "ex-president" ever because of his humanitarian work.
Moving Forward
If you want to keep track of what all living US presidents are up to, don't just watch the news headlines. Look at their foundations. That’s where the real work—and the real influence—is happening.
- Keep an eye on the Obama Foundation for shifts in grassroots organizing.
- Watch the George W. Bush Institute for work on global health and veteran support.
- Follow the Clinton Global Initiative for climate and economic development updates.
The "club" might be divided by politics, but the footprint they leave on the world continues long after they leave the Oval Office.
Check the official National Archives "Former Presidents" page for the most updated info on their public disclosures and library status. It’s the best way to see the hard data behind the legacies.