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It is a weird, exclusive little club. Honestly, it’s probably the most exclusive group on the planet. I’m talking about the "Presidents Club," that tiny band of people who actually know what it’s like to have the nuclear codes sitting on their nightstand.
If you are wondering exactly how many former presidents are still living right now, the answer as of January 2026 is four.
Wait, did that number sound low? It might, especially since for a long time we were used to seeing a much larger group at inaugurations and state funerals. But the landscape of American leadership changed significantly over the last year. Following the passing of Jimmy Carter in late 2024 and the shift in administrations in early 2025, the roster of living former commanders-in-chief has tightened up.
The Current Roster: Who Is Still With Us?
So, who are they? You’ve got a mix of generations here, ranging from the "Greatest Generation" era vibes to the relatively "young" guys.
- Bill Clinton (42nd President): Born in 1946, Clinton is 79 years old now. He’s been out of office for a quarter-century, which is wild to think about. He’s still active with his foundation, though he’s definitely slowed down after a few health scares over the years.
- George W. Bush (43rd President): Also born in 1946 (it was a big year for presidents, apparently), "W" is 79 too. You usually see him these days painting at his ranch in Crawford or hanging out at baseball games. He’s largely stayed out of the daily political mud-slinging.
- Barack Obama (44th President): The youngster of the group. At 64, Obama is still very much in the public eye. Whether it’s through his Netflix deals or occasional campaign appearances, he’s the former president who still feels most "current" to a lot of people.
- Joe Biden (46th President): The newest member of the former presidents club. Biden joined the ranks in January 2025. At 83, he is the oldest living former president.
Wait, you're probably asking about Donald Trump. Because he is currently serving his second, non-consecutive term as the 47th President (after being the 45th), he isn't technically a former president right now—he’s the current one. That’s a bit of a historical fluke we haven't seen since Grover Cleveland.
The Passing of a Legend: Jimmy Carter
We can't talk about how many former presidents are still living without mentioning the huge hole left by Jimmy Carter. He was the anchor of this group for decades.
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Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. He was the longest-lived president in U.S. history, a record that’s going to be incredibly hard to beat. He spent nearly 44 years in post-presidency, which is actually longer than some of his successors have been in public life! His death at the end of 2024 really marked the end of an era. He was the last one who served in the 1970s.
Why This Number Fluctuates So Much
It’s kinda fascinating to look at how this number shifts. There have been times in history when there were zero living former presidents.
Think back to the death of Richard Nixon in 1994. For a brief moment, there were five: Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush Sr. Then Nixon died. Then Reagan passed in 2004, followed by Ford in 2006.
But then we had a long stretch of stability. For a while, the "Fab Five" (Carter, Clinton, Bush 43, Obama, and Trump) were all around. Adding Biden to that list in 2021 made it six—the most we’ve ever had at one time.
The 1946 Connection
Is it weird that three of our presidents were born in the same summer?
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- Donald Trump: June 14, 1946
- George W. Bush: July 6, 1946
- Bill Clinton: August 19, 1946
Basically, if you were born in mid-1946, you had a statistically weird chance of becoming the leader of the free world. It’s one of those historical coincidences that historians love to geek out over.
What Do They Actually Do All Day?
You’d think they just sit around and collect their pension (which is about $246,424 a year as of recent adjustments), but they stay surprisingly busy.
The "Presidents Club" isn't just a metaphor; they actually talk to each other. Even when they’re from different parties. Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush famously became "kinda like brothers" while working on tsunami relief in 2004.
Obama still spends a lot of time on his memoirs and his work with the Obama Foundation. George W. Bush has turned into a serious oil painter. It’s a pretty chill life compared to having to decide whether or not to veto a massive spending bill or handle a border crisis.
The Health Watch
Look, we have to be honest here. The group is getting older.
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Joe Biden is 83. Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are both pushing 80. While they have the best medical care on the planet—literally, the Secret Service has medical protocols for them that are insane—age is still age.
When people search for how many former presidents are still living, they’re often checking in after a health scare. Clinton had a sepsis scare a few years back, and Biden’s health was the central topic of the 2024 election cycle.
Summary of the Current "Club"
If you need a quick cheat sheet for your next trivia night or just to settle a bet at dinner:
- Total Former Presidents Living: 4 (Clinton, Bush 43, Obama, Biden)
- Oldest: Joe Biden (83)
- Youngest: Barack Obama (64)
- Most Recent Addition: Joe Biden (January 20, 2025)
- Most Recent Departure: Jimmy Carter (Died Dec 29, 2024)
If you want to keep up with what these guys are doing, the best way is to follow their official centers. The Carter Center, the Clinton Foundation, and the George W. Bush Presidential Center all put out regular updates on their initiatives. It’s actually a great way to see how people with that much power choose to spend their "retirement" years for the public good.
Next time you see them all gathered for a funeral or a library opening, take a good look. It’s a rare sight, and with the way the numbers are trending, the "Club" is likely to stay this small—or even shrink—over the next few years.