It used to be a different name. For years, if you asked about the oldest person to ever hold the title of Commander-in-Chief, the answer was always Jimmy Carter. He was the peanut farmer who just wouldn't quit. He made it to 100. Honestly, it was an incredible run that redefined what we think of as a "post-presidency." But things have shifted. As of early 2026, the landscape of the "Presidents Club" looks a lot different than it did even eighteen months ago.
Joe Biden is currently the oldest president alive.
Born on November 20, 1942, Biden is 83 years old. He took over this specific distinction following the death of Jimmy Carter on December 29, 2024. It’s a bit of a weird milestone to hit, isn't it? You don't necessarily campaign for "oldest living," but it comes with the territory when you’ve spent over half a century in the public eye. Biden isn't just the oldest living; he also left office as the oldest person to ever serve as president, a record he set the moment he was inaugurated at 78 and kept pushing until he left the White House in January 2025.
The current rankings of the Presidents Club
We have five living presidents right now. That's a solid number, though it feels smaller without Carter's centenarian presence. If you’re looking at the ages, there is a very tight cluster at the top. It’s actually kind of wild how close three of these guys are in age. They were all born in the same year—1946—which was the start of the baby boom.
Here is how the ages break down right now:
- Joe Biden: 83 years old (Born Nov. 20, 1942)
- Donald Trump: 79 years old (Born June 14, 1946)
- George W. Bush: 79 years old (Born July 6, 1946)
- Bill Clinton: 79 years old (Born Aug. 19, 1946)
- Barack Obama: 64 years old (Born Aug. 4, 1961)
Basically, you have Biden in his own bracket, then a trio of 79-year-olds who are only separated by a few weeks or months of birth, and then Obama, who is essentially the "kid" of the group. Obama is nearly two decades younger than the man who served as his Vice President.
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What happened to Jimmy Carter?
You can't talk about who is the oldest president alive without acknowledging the legend who held the spot for so long. Jimmy Carter didn't just break the record for the oldest living president; he absolutely smashed it. He lived more than 43 years after leaving the White House. To put that in perspective, he lived longer after his presidency than some presidents lived in total.
Carter entered hospice care in February 2023. People thought he had weeks left. He had nineteen months. He reached his 100th birthday on October 1, 2024, becoming the first and only U.S. president to hit the century mark. He died peacefully in December of that year. His passing was a massive moment in American history, marking the end of a very specific era of 20th-century politics.
Donald Trump’s run for the record books
Even though Joe Biden holds the title today, there is a very real chance the records will change again soon. Donald Trump is currently the 47th President of the United States. He was sworn in for his second term on January 20, 2025.
At that moment, he became the oldest person ever inaugurated, taking that specific record away from Biden. If Trump completes his full four-year term, he will be 82 years and 7 months old when he leaves office in 2029. That would officially make him the oldest person to ever serve as president, narrowly beating out Biden's age when he departed in 2025.
It’s sort of a game of chronological leapfrog.
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Why presidential longevity is increasing
We are seeing presidents live way longer than the Founding Fathers ever did. Sure, John Adams made it to 90, which was unheard of in 1826, but he was an outlier. Most early presidents died in their 60s or 70s.
So why are they living so long now?
First off, they have the best healthcare on the planet. For life. Even after they leave the Oval Office, the Secret Service is there, but so is a medical infrastructure that most people can't imagine. They get regular screenings, the best specialists, and immediate intervention for any health scare.
But there’s also the "purpose" factor. Experts like those at the Mayo Clinic often point out that staying active and having a sense of mission—whether it’s writing memoirs, building libraries, or working with a foundation—keeps the brain and body engaged. Bill Clinton is still traveling for the Clinton Global Initiative. George W. Bush took up oil painting and works with veterans. Obama is producing Netflix specials and writing.
Surprising facts about presidential ages
Most people don't realize that three of our living presidents were born within about 60 days of each other in the summer of 1946.
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- Donald Trump: June 14
- George W. Bush: July 6
- Bill Clinton: August 19
It was a very busy summer for future presidents. Also, it’s worth noting that the youngest president ever inaugurated was Teddy Roosevelt at 42, not JFK (who was the youngest elected at 43). When you compare Roosevelt’s 42 to Biden’s 78 or Trump’s 78, you realize just how much the "ideal age" for a leader has shifted in the American consciousness.
The "Presidents Club" is a small, exclusive group. They are the only people who truly know what it’s like to have the nuclear codes and the weight of the world on their shoulders. Despite their political differences—and they are massive—they often find common ground in their shared experience of aging under the most intense spotlight imaginable.
What to watch for next
The records for longevity and age in office are being rewritten almost every year now. We are currently in an era of "gerontocracy," where the leaders of both major parties are significantly older than the median age of the American population.
If you want to keep track of these records, keep an eye on the following:
- Follow the official updates from the Office of the Former President for Joe Biden to see his post-White House activities.
- Watch the White House medical briefings for Donald Trump as he approaches the record for the oldest serving president in 2028.
- Check the Carter Center archives if you want to see the full data on how Jimmy Carter managed to reach 100.
Knowing who is the oldest president alive isn't just about trivia; it’s about understanding the health and history of the men who shaped the country. Biden currently holds the torch, but with three other presidents turning 80 in 2026, the list is getting very crowded at the top.
To stay informed on presidential history and current health updates, you can set up a Google Alert for "U.S. Presidential Longevity" or follow the historical trackers maintained by the National Archives. These resources provide verified, real-time data on the ages and statuses of all former commanders-in-chief without the noise of political commentary.