Jimmy Carter Kids Ages: What Most People Get Wrong About the Carter Family Today

If you’re looking up jimmy carter kids ages, you’re probably realizing something pretty quickly. This isn't just a list of numbers. It’s a snapshot of a family that has basically lived in the American consciousness for over fifty years.

Honestly, it's wild to think about. When Jimmy Carter took office in 1977, his youngest was a nine-year-old girl with a treehouse on the White House lawn. Now? She’s approaching 60.

Time moves fast, even for the Carters.

With the passing of the former president in late 2024 at the age of 100, and Rosalynn a year before him, the four Carter children have become the keepers of a massive legacy. They aren't "kids" anymore. They are seniors themselves, navigating their own lives in Georgia and beyond.

Let's break down exactly how old they are right now in 2026 and what they've been up to since leaving 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Carter Siblings: Current Ages as of 2026

If you want the quick numbers without the fluff, here is the current breakdown. Keep in mind, these folks were born over a span of twenty years, so there's a huge age gap between the oldest and the youngest.

• John William "Jack" Carter: 78 years old (Born July 3, 1947)
• James Earl "Chip" Carter III: 75 years old (Born April 12, 1950)
• Donnel Jeffrey "Jeff" Carter: 73 years old (Born August 18, 1952)
• Amy Lynn Carter: 58 years old (Born October 19, 1967)

It’s kind of crazy to realize Jack is nearly 80. He was already a grown man with a kid of his own when his father was in the Oval Office. Meanwhile, Amy was still reading Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator at state dinners.

Why the Age Gap Matters

The Carters didn't have a "standard" family timeline.

Jimmy and Rosalynn had their three sons in very quick succession while Jimmy was serving in the Navy. Jack, Chip, and Jeff were the "Navy brats." They moved around a lot—Virginia, Hawaii, Connecticut. By the time Amy came along in 1967, the boys were basically adults or teenagers.

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In fact, the family actually held a vote on whether or not to have a fourth child.

The boys voted yes.

That 15-year gap between Jeff and Amy is why her experience in the White House was so fundamentally different from her brothers'. She was the "White House kid" in the public eye. The boys were already trying to start their own careers or helping with the campaign.

Jack Carter: The Businessman and Politician (78)

Jack is the eldest. He’s lived a life that sort of mirrors his dad’s in some ways, though he’s mostly stayed out of the national spotlight. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, though he was famously discharged for smoking marijuana (a fact that didn't stop his dad from winning the presidency later).

Later in life, Jack moved to Nevada. He actually ran for the U.S. Senate there in 2006. He didn't win, but he carried that Carter brand of earnestness throughout the campaign. At 78, he’s mostly retired, having spent decades in the investment and grain industries.

Chip Carter: The Campaigner (75)

James Earl "Chip" Carter III has always been the one most deeply involved in the "business" of being a Carter.

He worked on the Peanut farm. He worked for the Democratic National Committee. He lived in the White House with his first wife and their son, James IV, while Jimmy was president.

People often forget that Chip was the one who famously represented his father at the funeral of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. He’s 75 now, and while he’s kept a lower profile in recent years, he remains a fixture in the Georgia political scene.

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Jeff Carter: The Tech Innovator (73)

Donnel "Jeff" Carter was always the "tech guy" of the group.

He co-founded a company called Computer Mapping Consultants back in the late 70s. This was way before everyone had a GPS in their pocket. He was doing data mapping for the World Bank and other big entities.

Jeff’s life hasn't been without tragedy. He lost his wife, Annette, in 2021. He’s currently 73 and lives in the Atlanta area. He’s mostly known for being the quietest of the three brothers, preferring the world of geography and data to the podium.

Amy Carter: The Activist (58)

Then there’s Amy.

Most people over 40 remember her as the little girl with the glasses and the books. But Amy grew up to be a fierce activist. In the 80s and 90s, she was getting arrested at anti-apartheid protests and CIA recruitment rallies.

She eventually stepped away from the spotlight entirely. She got her Master’s in Art History from Tulane and illustrated a children’s book her father wrote (The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer). At 58, she lives a very private life in Atlanta with her family. You won't find her on Instagram or doing tell-all interviews. She’s fiercely protective of her privacy, which, honestly, you can't blame her for after the childhood she had.

What Most People Get Wrong

One of the biggest misconceptions about the jimmy carter kids ages and their lives is that they lived a life of pampered luxury.

That really wasn't the vibe.

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The Carters were famous for being "frugal." Even in the White House, Amy was expected to go to public school. Stevens Elementary, to be exact. It was a predominantly Black school in D.C., and it was a deliberate choice by Jimmy and Rosalynn to show they practiced what they preached about integration and public service.

Another thing? People think they’re all still "kids."

Because Jimmy Carter lived to be 100, we kept seeing him as the "patriarch" and his children as the younger generation. But when your dad is 100, you aren't exactly a spring chicken. The "children" are now senior citizens who are managing the Carter Center and the massive archive of their parents' lives.

The Next Generation: The Grandkids

If you're tracking the ages of the kids, you're likely curious about the grandkids too.

Jason Carter (Jack’s son) is probably the most famous of the bunch. He’s 50 years old and has taken over as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Carter Center. He’s essentially the face of the family now.

In early 2025, Jason made headlines when he announced he wouldn't be running for Governor of Georgia in 2026. The reason? His wife, Kate, is battling glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain cancer. It was a sobering reminder that while the Carters are public figures, they deal with the same heavy, human stuff we all do.

Insightful Takeaways for 2026

Looking at the Carter family today, there are a few things that stand out:

1. Longevity is in the genes: Jimmy lived to 100, Rosalynn to 96. With the kids now in their late 50s to late 70s, they seem to be following that trend of long, active lives.
2. Privacy is their currency: Unlike modern "nepo babies," the Carter children (especially Amy and Jeff) have worked hard to stay out of the tabloid circuit.
3. The Shift in Leadership: We are officially in the "Jason Carter era." While the four children are the immediate heirs, the 50-year-old grandson is the one steering the political and philanthropic ship into the future.

If you’re following the family's legacy, the best thing to do is keep an eye on the Carter Center's annual reports. That’s where the real work—eradicating Guinea worm, monitoring elections, and mental health advocacy—actually happens. The kids might be getting older, but the work their parents started is still very much in its prime.

Actionable Next Steps:
To stay updated on the family’s ongoing philanthropic work, you can follow the official Carter Center updates or look into the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains, Georgia. It’s one of the few places where you can see the actual environment where these four kids grew up before the world knew their names.