Which Former U.S. Presidents Are Still Alive? What the Remaining 4 Have Been Up to Since Leaving Office

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Getty(3)

Getty(3)

The number of living former U.S. presidents dwindled to four on Dec. 29, 2024, whenJimmy Carterdied at age 100just months after extending his record as thelongest-living president in U.S. history. With his death,Bill Clinton,George W. Bush,Barack ObamaandDonald Trumpare the remaining living former presidents.

Besides Carter having the longest post-White Houselife, the 39th president also holds the distinction for having the most enduring presidential marriage to his late wife,Rosalynn Carter, whodied in November 2023after77 years of marriage. The former president, who was moved to hospice care in February 2023, died at home in Plains, Ga.

Read below about all four former heads of state who are still living, and learn what they’ve been up to since their respective terms ended.

Bill Clinton, 42nd U.S. President

Age:77

Party:Democratic

Presidential Term:1993–2001

Succeeded By:George W. Bush

Since leaving office after a dramatic two terms, the once-impeached Clinton launched theClinton Foundationin 2001 “to expand economic opportunity, improve public health, confront the climate crisis, and inspire citizen engagement and service.”

In addition to helping campaign for wifeHillary Clintonin the 2008 and 2016 presidential elections, Clinton has continued to serve internationally, working with the United Nations on several diplomatic missions over the years.

He and Hillary have since become grandparents to daughterChelsea Clintonand son-in-lawMarc Mezvinsky’s three children:Charlotte,AidanandJasper.

In April 2024, it was announced that Clinton wouldpublish a new memoirabout his post-White House life,Citizen: My Life After the White House, due in November 2024.

George W. Bush, 43rd U.S. President

Former U.S. President George W. Bush attending a football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Oct. 6, 2019, in Arlington, Texas.Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

Party:Republican

Presidential Term:2001–2009

Succeeded By:Barack Obama

Additionally, he’staken up painting(with his workdisplaying at EPCOT’s American Adventures pavilionat Disney!) and even published some books of portraits, paying tribute toAmerica’s immigrantsandmilitary veterans.

In 2013, Bushhad a coronary artery stent placedfollowing a severe life-threatening blockage. In early 2023, the former head of state’s daughterJenna Bush Hagerrevealed her fatherhad undergone a seemingly successful back surgery, from which his spokesperson confirmed he was recovering well.

The former president and his wife,Laura Bush, are the proud grandparents tofour grandchildren: Mila, Poppy and Hal from Jenna, as well as Cora from daughterBarbara Pierce Bush.

In addition to remaining outspoken about many of the issues the country faces today, hecampaigned for his brotherJeb Bushduring the 2016 Republican presidential primaries.

Their father, 41st PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush, held the record as the longest-living U.S. president untilhis death at 94in 2018.

Barack Obama, 44th U.S. President

Former President Barack Obama delivering remarks on the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 5, 2022.MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty

Age:62

Presidential Term:2009–2017

Succeeded By:Donald Trump

After making history as the country’s first Black head of state, former PresidentBarack Obamahosted the inaugural summit of theObama Foundationin 2017.

He and his wife,Michelle Obama, alsosigned a deal with Netflixin 2018 to produce docuseries, documentaries and features through their Higher Ground Productions banner. They have since released several titles; their first,American Factory(2019),won the Academy Award for Best Documentaryin 2020.

Although the Obamaswere not included in the Oscar victory, the 44th U.S. president went on to win his firstEmmyin 2022 for narrating the Netflix docuseriesOur Great National Parks.

In 2020, Obama released his presidential memoirA Promised Landfollowing a$65 million dealwith Penguin Random House. Obama has also co-hosted theRenegades: Born in the USApodcast withBruce Springsteen.

The Obamas sharetwo daughters,MaliaandSasha Obama. Malia is a writer and director whose credits includeThe Heart(2023) and the Amazon Prime Video miniseriesSwarm. Sasha is an academic who graduated from the University of Southern California with an undergraduate degree in sociology in May 2023.

In 2019, the Obamasbought a home in Martha’s Vineyardfor $11.75 million.

In the 2020 election against Trump, Obamaendorsed his former vice president,Joe Biden, who became the 46th U.S. president.

Donald Trump, 45th U.S. President

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Aug. 6, 2022, in Dallas.Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Presidential Term:2017–2021

Succeeded By:Joe Biden

In the years since former President Trump left office, thetwice-impeached politicianmoved into his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.

The former president has been married toMelania Trumpsince 2005; they have one child together,Barron Trump. Trump also shares four children between ex-wivesIvana TrumpandMarla Maples—Don Trump Jr.,Eric TrumpandIvanka Trumpwith Ivana and daughterTiffany Trumpwith Maples — and 10 grandchildren.

In late 2020, while serving as head of state amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Trumptested positivefor the widespread disease, which he called “a blessing from God.”

Trumpannounced his 2024 campaignfor reelection in November 2022. In March 2024, heofficially became the presumptive Republican nomineefor president in 2024 after earning more than half of the total GOP delegates after the primary elections. In November 2024,Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

The billionaire’s presidential pursuit wasn’t without serious legal woes, including those involving hispossession of more than 300 classified documentsafter leaving office, as well as hisalleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riotson the U.S. Capitol. He’s also been entangled in multiple lawsuits, such as ahush-money case in New York, theGeorgia election case, thefederal election case, the classified documents case and acivil fraud case.

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The bipartisan House committee investigating the January 6 riots recommended Trump bebarred from holding office againin their final report released in December 2022.

After registering Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) in February 2021, Trump launched the social media platformTruth Sociala year later. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissionhas since been investigating TMTGfor the company’s merger with China-based Digital World Acquisition Corp.

Trumpendorsed more than 200 candidatesin the 2022 midterm elections, many of whom previously supported his unfounded claims of election fraud.

source: people.com