How Old Is Former President George W Bush

Have you ever caught yourself Googling a celebrity’s age and wondered, “Wait, how old is George W. Bush now?” It’s one of those fun little time-travel mental games. You remember him as the 43rd President, but then you realize that was over two decades ago.

Well, let’s do the math together. George W. Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut. That makes him a proud 78 years old as of 2025. It’s wild to think he’s been around for almost eight decades of American history.

To put that into perspective, he’s just a few years younger than your classic rock icons. He’s basically the same age as Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney, but with a different career path, obviously. He was born after World War II ended, which puts him right in the heart of the Baby Boomer generation.

Why finding his age feels a bit surreal

Think about it: if you were a kid in the early 2000s, George W. Bush seemed like the ultimate “old guy” in charge. Now, you might be pushing 40 yourself, and he’s still out there painting, biking, and cracking jokes. It’s a weird feeling, isn’t it?

When he left office in 2009, he was 62. For many, that’s around retirement age. But he didn’t slow down; he picked up a paintbrush and started a whole new chapter. It makes you wonder: “Is 78 the new 60?”

He’s actually four years older than President Joe Biden, which is a fun fact. Biden was born in 1942. This means Bush came of age during the moon landing and the Vietnam War, while Biden was already in law school. Generations overlap in strange ways.

George W. Bush Inauguration Day 2025: See photos of former president

The cool part? What he’s doing at 78

So, what does a 78-year-old former president do with his time? He doesn’t just sit in a rocking chair. George W. Bush paints portraits of veterans and wounded soldiers. He’s released books of his art, and honestly, his paintings have a charmingly rough, sincere style.

He also rides mountain bikes. No joke. He’s been known to hit the trails in Texas, often with a group of fellow veterans. At 78, he’s probably in better shape than most of us sitting on our couches right now.

Another neat detail: he’s an avid reader. He once said he reads about 95 books a year. That’s nearly two books a week. If you think you’re busy, compare that to your own Goodreads challenge. It’s a reminder that age is just a number for staying curious.

George W. Bush ‑ Age, Presidency & Wife

Comparisons that make you say “Oh, wow”

Let’s play the comparison game. When Bush was born, Harry Truman was President and The Wizard of Oz was a brand new movie. That feels like ancient history, yet he’s still active on social media (sort of) and sketching landscapes.

He’s exactly the same age as the actor Richard Gere and the rock star Sting. So, next time you see a photo of Bush holding a puppy, just imagine him and Sting having a chat about meditation. It’s a fun parallel universe.

His father, George H.W. Bush, lived to be 94. That means W. might have another 16 years of painting and biking ahead of him. That’s a whole generation of time. It makes you realize how long the second act of a president’s life can be.

George W Bush Now

Why it’s interesting beyond the math

Knowing his age isn’t just trivia. It frames everything he did in the White House. He was 54 when he took office after the 2000 election. That’s the same age many people are considering early retirement.

He was only 55 when 9/11 happened. Think about leading a nation through a crisis at an age when most people are thinking about their AARP card. It puts the weight of those years into perspective.

The beauty of this whole age thing is that it humanizes him. He’s not just a figure from a history textbook. He’s a 78-year-old man who learned to paint, still rides a bike, and calls his friends by nicknames. And that, honestly, is pretty cool.

So, next time you see an old press conference clip, remember: that guy is now a retired artist and grandpa. And he’s only a few years older than your favorite classic rock bands. Time flies, but it looks like he’s enjoying the ride.