Ever look at a crumpled five-dollar bill while waiting in the drive-thru and wonder why Abraham Lincoln is staring back at you? Most of us just see "money." We don't see the centuries of political fighting, ego trips, and design overhaul that put those specific faces in our pockets. Honestly, the lineup of presidents on US bills feels like it's been set in stone forever, but it’s actually a mix of tradition, law, and some pretty intense historical lobbying.
If you’ve got a wallet nearby, pull it out. You’ve probably got George, maybe an Abe, and if it’s payday, a Benjamin (who, spoiler alert, wasn't actually a president). It’s a weirdly exclusive club. Only a handful of people have the "honor" of being printed on green paper that gets shoved into vending machines.
The Big Names: Which Presidents Are Actually on Your Money?
Right now, the Treasury Department sticks to a very specific roster. It’s not just a random "Best Of" list from a history textbook. There are legal reasons why these guys stayed put for nearly a century.
George Washington ($1 Bill)
Basically the face of American money. Washington has been on the $1 bill since 1869. He’s the "father of the country," so it makes sense he’s on the bill we use the most. Fun fact: his portrait is based on an unfinished painting by Gilbert Stuart. Stuart was kinda clever—he kept the painting so he could keep making copies of it for cash. Now, that same unfinished face is printed billions of times a year.
Thomas Jefferson ($2 Bill)
The $2 bill is the "weirdo" of US currency. You don't see them often, which makes people think they’re rare or fake. They aren't. Jefferson has been on there since 1869, too. Even though you don’t get them in change much, the Treasury still prints them. People mostly keep them as "good luck" charms or because they look cool.
Abraham Lincoln ($5 Bill)
Abe is everywhere. He’s on the penny and the $5. He was the first president to appear on a circulating coin back in 1909 to celebrate his 100th birthday. On the $5 bill, he’s been the mainstay since the early 1900s. It’s a heavy-duty bill because it’s the lowest denomination with significant security features.
Andrew Jackson ($20 Bill)
This is where things get controversial. Jackson has been on the $20 since 1928, replacing Grover Cleveland. The irony? Jackson actually hated paper money and the national bank. He probably would have been furious to know his face is on the most circulated "high-value" bill in the world.
✨ Don't miss: Williams Sonoma Deer Park IL: What Most People Get Wrong About This Kitchen Icon
Ulysses S. Grant ($50 Bill)
Grant is the guy people often forget. He was the 18th president and the General who basically won the Civil War. He’s been on the $50 since 1913. There have been a few attempts in Congress to swap him out for Ronald Reagan, but Grant’s legacy as a civil rights defender has kept him on the "fifty" for over a hundred years.
Wait, Why Aren't They All Presidents?
You’ve definitely noticed the "imposters."
Alexander Hamilton ($10) and Benjamin Franklin ($100) are the two big exceptions. Neither was a president, yet they hold some of the most valuable real estate in your wallet.
Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury, so he basically built the system that prints the money. He stays on the $10 because, well, he’s the boss. Franklin was a polymath, a diplomat, and a Founding Father. He’s on the $100 because he represents American ingenuity—and because "The Benjamins" sounds a lot better than "The Grants."
The "Secret" Large Bills
Most people never see these, but the US used to print much bigger denominations. We’re talking $500, $1,000, and even $100,000 bills.
- William McKinley was on the $500.
- Grover Cleveland was on the $1,000.
- James Madison was on the $5,000.
- Woodrow Wilson was on the $100,000 (used only between banks).
They stopped printing these in 1945. Why? Basically, they realized that if you're carrying a $10,000 bill, you're probably either a bank or a criminal.
🔗 Read more: Finding the most affordable way to live when everything feels too expensive
The Law: Who Decides Who Gets a Bill?
You can't just lobby to get your face on a fiver. There’s a very strict rule: No living person can be on US currency. This law was passed during the Civil War. Back then, a guy named Spencer Clark (who worked for the Treasury) actually put his own face on a 5-cent note. People were ticked off. Congress immediately passed a law saying only deceased individuals could be depicted. It keeps things humble and prevents sitting presidents from using money as a campaign poster.
The Secretary of the Treasury has the final say. They don't need an act of Congress to change a portrait, though they usually listen to public sentiment and historical experts.
The Harriet Tubman $20: What’s the Hold-Up?
You’ve probably heard the news that Harriet Tubman is supposed to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. This has been "in the works" since 2016. It’s a massive deal because she would be the first African American on a major bill and the first woman on paper currency in over a century.
So, where is it?
Basically, redesigning a bill isn't just about swapping a photo in Photoshop. The $20 is one of the most counterfeited bills in the world. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has to bake in dozens of high-tech security features—3D ribbons, color-shifting ink, and microscopic printing. As of 2026, the plan is still moving forward, but the "new" twenty isn't expected to hit your hands until closer to 2030.
Current plans suggest Jackson might move to the back of the bill (the reverse), showing the White House, while Tubman takes the front. It’s a compromise that reflects the complicated history of American leadership.
💡 You might also like: Executive desk with drawers: Why your home office setup is probably failing you
How to Tell if Your Bills Are Legit
Since we're talking about the faces on these bills, it's worth noting that the portraits are actually the first line of defense against fakes. On a real bill, the president’s portrait looks lifelike. The eyes are sharp. The skin texture has tiny, distinct lines. On a counterfeit, the face often looks "flat" or blurry.
Next time you hold a $20 or $50, try this:
- Feel the paper. It’s actually a cotton-linen blend, not wood-pulp paper. It should feel slightly raised on the president's suit.
- Check the watermark. Hold it to the light. You should see a faint image of the same president hidden in the white space.
- Look for the thread. There’s a vertical plastic strip embedded in the paper that glows under UV light.
What's Next for Your Cash?
We’re moving toward a digital world, sure, but paper money isn't dying yet. The Treasury is currently in the middle of a multi-year "Redesign Era." Every denomination from the $5 up is getting a facelift to stay ahead of counterfeiters.
While the presidents on US bills will mostly stay the same, the look of the bills is changing. Expect more colors, bigger numbers for the visually impaired, and more diverse historical scenes on the back of the notes.
Actionable Steps to Take Today:
- Check Your Stash: Look for "Star Notes." If your bill has a small star at the end of the serial number, it’s a replacement bill and might be worth more than face value to collectors.
- Visit the Source: If you’re ever in D.C. or Fort Worth, take the Bureau of Engraving and Printing tour. It’s free and you get to see millions of dollars being printed right in front of you.
- Save a $2: Next time you’re at a bank, ask for a few two-dollar bills. They’re great for tipping or just as a conversation starter—plus, they remind people that Thomas Jefferson still has a spot in the lineup.