It’s a weird club. Honestly, it’s probably the most exclusive, high-stress, and slightly awkward fraternity on the planet. I’m talking about the group of US presidents who are alive, a roster that changed significantly just a year ago.
You’d think after running the free world, these guys would just disappear to a beach in Fiji. Some kinda do. Others, well, they can't seem to stay away from a microphone or a courtroom. As of early 2026, the lineup has shifted. We lost the legendary Jimmy Carter at the end of 2024—the man made it to 100, which is just insane—and Joe Biden has officially joined the "former" ranks.
Here’s the current breakdown of the men who have held the nuclear codes and are still walking among us.
The 2026 Roster: Who’s Still in the Club?
Right now, we have five living former presidents. If you count the current guy in the Oval Office, Donald Trump (who is serving his second, non-consecutive term), that makes six men total who know what the Resolute Desk feels like.
- Bill Clinton (42nd)
- George W. Bush (43rd)
- Barack Obama (44th)
- Joe Biden (46th)
- Donald Trump (45th and 47th)
It’s a diverse group, to say the least. You’ve got a painter, a podcast mogul, a guy fighting subpoenas, and a sitting president who is currently trying to buy Greenland (yes, that’s actually back on the table in 2026).
Bill Clinton: The "Citizen" and the Subpoenas
Bill Clinton is 79 now. He’s been out of office for a quarter-century, which is hard to wrap your head around. Lately, he’s been back in the news for things he’d probably rather avoid. Just this month, in January 2026, the House Oversight Committee initiated contempt proceedings against him. It’s all very messy, involving subpoenas and past legal shadows that just won't quit.
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But when he’s not dealing with lawyers, he’s still the face of the Clinton Global Initiative. He recently put out a book called Citizen: My Life After the White House. It’s a pretty candid look at how he navigated the post-presidency. He’s thinner now—vegan life and all that—but that voice is still unmistakable.
George W. Bush: The Quiet Life in Dallas
"W" is basically the poster child for how to disappear gracefully. He’s also 79. You’ll mostly find him at his ranch in Crawford or at Dallas Cowboys games. He’s leaned hard into his painting. If you haven’t seen his portraits of veterans, they’re actually quite moving.
He stays out of the day-to-day political mud. It’s a deliberate choice. He’s often quoted saying that a former president shouldn't make life harder for the current one. Whether you liked his policies or not, there’s something kind of respectable about how he just... went home.
Barack Obama: The Cultural Powerhouse
Obama is the youngster of the group at 64. He’s been busy building the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which is finally slated to open this spring. He’s not just a "former president"; he’s a media mogul. Between the Netflix deals and the high-profile speeches, he’s maintained a level of cultural relevance that most former politicians lose within six months.
He still carries that "Professor-in-Chief" vibe. Recently, he’s been doing these virtual sessions for the center, talking about community leadership. He’s active, he’s visible, and he’s clearly focused on his legacy in a very structured way.
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Joe Biden: The Transition to Private Life
Joe Biden is the newest member of the "Former" club. Since leaving office in early 2025, he’s been relatively quiet. After fifty years in public service, the guy probably deserves a nap. He’s been spending time in Rehoboth Beach and Wilmington. There’s been a lot of talk about his health, especially after he stepped aside from the 2024 race, but he’s still popping up at family events and looking remarkably relaxed for a man who spent four years in the ultimate pressure cooker.
Donald Trump: The Outlier
Then there’s Trump. He’s 79 and currently back in the White House. He’s the first president since Grover Cleveland to serve non-consecutive terms. Because he's the sitting president again, his "living president" status is a bit of a paradox. He’s currently dealing with some health scrutiny—his doctors recently released memos about CT scans and his "perfect" health—but he’s as active as ever, recently announcing the U.S. delegation for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
The Logistics of Being an "Ex"
Being one of the US presidents who are alive isn't just about honorary degrees and library openings. It’s a logistical nightmare.
Secret Service Protection
Every single one of these guys has a lifetime security detail. That means they can't just go to Starbucks. If Bill Clinton wants a latte, it involves a motorcade and a sweep of the building. It’s a gilded cage. You get the protection, but you lose the privacy. Forever.
The Pension
They get paid. It’s roughly the same as a Cabinet Secretary’s salary—around $230,000 a year. Plus, they get travel expenses and office space. It sounds like a lot, but when you consider the cost of maintaining a "presidential" staff, it disappears fast. That's why they all write books. The real money is in the memoirs.
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Why We Are Obsessed With Them
There is a fascination with how these men age. We watch their hair turn grey in real-time. We analyze their every public comment for a "dig" at the current administration.
But honestly? Most of the time, they actually get along. There’s a famous photo of the "Living Presidents" club where they’re all laughing together. Once you’ve been through that specific fire, the partisan stuff seems to fade a bit. They are the only people on earth who truly understand each other’s resumes.
What You Can Do Now
If you’re interested in the lives of the US presidents who are alive, don’t just read the headlines. The best way to understand them is through their libraries.
- Visit the Bush Center in Dallas: On Presidents Day 2026, admission is actually free. It’s worth it just to see the "Decision Points" theater where you can try to make the same calls he did during 9/11.
- Check out the Obama Center’s Virtual Tours: Since the physical building in Chicago is opening soon, they are doing a ton of online previews.
- Read "Citizen" by Bill Clinton: If you want to know what it’s actually like to wake up the day after you’re no longer the most powerful person on earth, this book is probably the best source out there.
The "club" will eventually grow, and eventually, it will shrink. But for now, these five men represent the living history of the American experiment. Whether they are painting in Texas or fighting a subpoena in D.C., they remain the most scrutinized private citizens in the world.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs:
- Follow the National Archives: They manage the transition of records and often post "on this day" content that provides context for the former presidents' current activities.
- Monitor the Presidential Libraries: These are the primary hubs for their post-office work. Each one has a foundation that funds their specific pet projects (climate change for Obama, global health for Clinton).
- Check the Federal Register: If you’re curious about the "sitting" vs. "former" distinction, the legal framework for the Former Presidents Act is all public record and surprisingly interesting.