Ever get that weird feeling where you can't quite remember if a certain famous person is still with us? It happens all the time with political figures. You see a clip from the nineties and think, "Wait, is he still around?" When it comes to the most exclusive club in the world—the U.S. Presidency—the numbers change more often than you'd think.
Right now, in early 2026, there are four living former U.S. presidents.
Wait, did you think it was five? Or maybe six? It's okay. Honestly, the math has been a bit of a moving target lately. Up until very recently, we had a historically high number of living commanders-in-chief. But time, as it always does, eventually catches up with even the most powerful people on the planet.
The Current Roll Call: Who’s Still in the Club?
Basically, if you're looking for the names, here is the short list of the men who have held the keys to the White House and are still here to talk about it:
- Joe Biden (46th President)
- Donald Trump (45th and 47th President - currently serving)
- Barack Obama (44th President)
- George W. Bush (43rd President)
- Bill Clinton (42nd President)
Technically, since Donald Trump is the sitting president again, we have four former presidents and one current president. It's a bit of a unique situation. Usually, we think of "former" presidents as the guys in suits at library dedications or funeral front rows.
Why the number recently dropped
The big change that most people are still processing is the passing of Jimmy Carter. He was a force of nature. He entered hospice care back in February 2023, and most of us—honestly, probably including his doctors—expected him to pass within weeks. He didn't. He lived through his 99th birthday, outlived his beloved wife Rosalynn, and finally reached the incredible milestone of 100 years old.
Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024. His death marked the end of an era. He wasn't just a former president; he was the longest-lived president in American history. He held the record for the longest post-presidency, too—over 43 years of life after leaving the Oval Office. When he died, the "Presidents Club" got a little smaller and a lot less centenarian.
A Quick Look at the Ages
It's kinda wild when you look at how close in age most of these guys are. We have this strange "Class of 1946" phenomenon happening.
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Bill Clinton was born in August 1946.
George W. Bush was born in July 1946.
Donald Trump was born in June 1946.
Think about that for a second. Three men who served as president were all born within a few months of each other. They are all currently 79 years old. They grew up in the same post-WWII world, yet they took the country in vastly different directions.
Then you have Joe Biden, who is actually the elder statesman of the group at 83. He was born in 1942, making him several years older than the 1946 trio.
And then there's Barack Obama. He's the "young" one. Born in 1961, he’s currently 64. He’s the only one of the group who isn't pushing 80 or beyond. It's a weird dynamic when the 44th president is nearly 20 years younger than the 46th.
The "Presidents Club" Gatherings
You've probably seen those photos. All the former presidents standing in a row, usually at a funeral or a museum opening. They look like they're sharing a secret. And they probably are. No one else knows what it's like to have the nuclear codes or to make a decision that affects millions of lives in an afternoon.
The most recent "full house" gathering happened at Jimmy Carter's funeral in early 2025. It was a somber, rare moment where Biden, Trump, Obama, Bush, and Clinton were all in the same room. These events are tense. You've got guys who have spent years campaigning against each other, calling each other "unfit" or "dangerous," suddenly forced to share a pew and a program.
Hillary Clinton once described the club as a "very supportive group," but let's be real—the political friction is always there.
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Have we ever had more living presidents?
Actually, yes. But only barely.
The record for the most living presidents (current and former) at one time is six.
It has happened a few times:
- 1861 to 1862: Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan were all alive when Abraham Lincoln took office.
- 1993 to 1994: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush were all alive during Bill Clinton's first year.
- 2001 to 2004: Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr., and Clinton were alive when George W. Bush was president.
- 2017 to 2018: Carter, Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr., and Obama were all alive when Donald Trump was first inaugurated.
- 2021 to 2024: Carter, Clinton, Bush Jr., Obama, and Trump were all alive during Joe Biden's term.
We seem to hit that "six" ceiling and then drop back down. Since Carter passed, we are back to five (one current, four former).
What are they doing now?
Most former presidents follow a pretty standard script: write a book, build a library, start a foundation, and try not to get too involved in daily politics (though that last part has become harder lately).
Bill Clinton stays busy with the Clinton Global Initiative. He’s dealt with some health scares over the years—heart bypasses and stents—but he’s still active on the speaking circuit. He’s also a grandfather now, which seems to take up a lot of his time.
George W. Bush has taken a much quieter path. He paints. A lot. He’s moved back to Texas and mostly stays out of the fray, focusing on his portraits of world leaders and veterans. You’ll occasionally see him at a baseball game or a golf tournament.
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Barack Obama is still very much in the public eye. Between his Netflix deals, his memoirs, and his foundation's work in Chicago, he remains a major power player in the Democratic party.
Joe Biden only recently joined the "former" ranks. Since leaving office in early 2025, he has stayed mostly in Delaware, presumably working on his own presidential library plans and spending time with his family after decades in the public eye.
Why this number matters for history
The number of living presidents is a weirdly good metric for the health and longevity of our leaders. We are living in an era of "Gerontocracy"—where our leaders are older than they've ever been.
Donald Trump broke the record for the oldest person sworn in. Joe Biden broke the record before him. We are seeing presidents live much longer thanks to world-class medical care. When a president leaves office, they get a lifetime of Secret Service protection and, perhaps more importantly, the best doctors on the planet.
This longevity means that the "former presidents" group is becoming more influential. They aren't just retiring to a ranch to fade away; they're staying active for 20 or 30 years after their term ends.
Actionable Insights: Staying Updated
If you’re a history buff or just someone who likes to keep their trivia sharp, here is how you can keep track of the "Presidents Club" without having to Google it every month:
- Follow the Office of the Former President: Each former leader has a small staff funded by the taxpayers. Their official websites (like barackobama.com or https://www.google.com/search?q=georgebush.com) are the best places for actual news, rather than social media rumors.
- The National Archives: They manage the presidential libraries. If you want to see what these guys are actually doing to preserve their legacy, check out the National Archives website.
- Watch the Front Row: The next time there is a major national event—a State of the Union or a major funeral—look at the seating. The protocol for where former presidents sit is very strict and tells you exactly who is still in the mix.
Knowing how many former u.s. presidents are still alive is more than just a numbers game. It's a snapshot of American history in real-time. We are currently in a period where the "Class of '46" is still holding strong, but the departure of Jimmy Carter reminds us that the list is always, eventually, going to change.
Keep an eye on the news out of Dallas, Chappaqua, and Washington. These men may be "former" presidents, but their influence doesn't disappear just because they moved out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.