The Carter Legacy Now: Where Are Jimmy Carter's Four Children Today?
Few American families carry the weight of public service and historical significance quite like the Carters. As of the end of 2025, former President Jimmy Carter, the longest-lived U.S. president, remains a global symbol of humanitarian work, and the world continues to watch his family closely. The four children of Jimmy and the late Rosalynn Carter—Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy—have navigated life from the White House fishbowl to forging their own distinct paths, all while upholding the values instilled in them in Plains, Georgia.
This article provides an in-depth, current look at the lives, careers, and personal endeavors of the Carter children. From political activism and environmentalism to private struggles and continuing the work of The Carter Center, their stories offer a powerful reflection of a family dedicated to a legacy of service.
The Complete Biography of the Carter Children
Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter shared a marriage of 77 years and raised four children, each of whom has carved out a unique identity in the public and private spheres. Their lives span politics, business, education, and humanitarian work, ensuring the Carter name remains synonymous with public engagement.
- John William "Jack" Carter
- Born: July 3, 1947, Portsmouth, Virginia
- Age (Late 2025): 78
- Current Focus: Businessman, politician, and environmental advocate. He has been involved in various political campaigns and continues to be a vocal member of the family.
- James Earl "Chip" Carter III
- Born: April 12, 1950, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Age (Late 2025): 75
- Current Focus: Resides in Decatur, Georgia. He has worked in the peanut industry and has been a political activist, often serving as a reflective voice on his parents' extraordinary legacy.
- Donnel Jeffrey "Jeff" Carter
- Born: August 18, 1952, New London, Connecticut
- Age (Late 2025): 73
- Current Focus: Formerly a co-founder of a computer-mapping company, he is now quietly navigating life in Georgia while managing a private health challenge.
- Amy Lynn Carter
- Born: October 19, 1967, Plains, Georgia
- Age (Late 2025): 58
- Current Focus: Political activist and former educator. She is the most private of the siblings, living a life dedicated to progressive causes and her family in Georgia.
Jack Carter: The Political and Environmental Advocate
John William "Jack" Carter, the eldest of the Carter siblings, has had a career marked by both business ventures and political engagement. Following his father’s footsteps in public life, Jack Carter has been a visible figure in Democratic politics, though his own political bids have been less successful than his father’s.
Jack earned a degree in nuclear physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology and later served in the U.S. Navy. His career path has been diverse, including working in the financial sector and running for the U.S. Senate in Nevada in 2006. While he did not win the election, his involvement solidified his commitment to public discourse and environmental issues.
In recent years, Jack has focused on environmental advocacy, often speaking on the importance of sustainability and conservation. Perhaps his most enduring current legacy is through his son, Jason Carter. Jason, a former Georgia State Senator and gubernatorial nominee, now serves as the highly influential Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Carter Center. This role ensures the family's direct involvement in the humanitarian and human rights work that defines the Carter name.
Jack Carter’s life today is a blend of private business consulting and public support for the Carter legacy, especially through his son’s leadership at the Center.
James Earl "Chip" Carter III: The Family's Reflective Voice
James Earl "Chip" Carter III, born while his father was stationed in Hawaii, has often been the most candid and reflective voice of the Carter family in recent years. Chip's life, like his siblings', has been a journey from the intense scrutiny of the White House to a quieter, more grounded existence in Georgia.
Chip Carter currently resides in Decatur, Georgia, with his third wife, Becky Payne. His earlier career included working in the family's peanut business and being involved in various grassroots political activities. He was known for being an active participant in his father's presidential campaigns, and he often served as a liaison between the White House and younger voters during his father's term.
Today, Chip is a key figure in preserving the family’s narrative. Following the passing of his mother, Rosalynn Carter, and during his father's continued hospice care, Chip has frequently offered personal, heartfelt insights into the values and deep commitment to service that defined his parents' lives. He often speaks of the large, close-knit Carter clan—which includes 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren—and their efforts to keep the family unit strong, especially during this challenging period.
Donnel Jeffrey "Jeff" Carter: Navigating Private Health Challenges
Donnel Jeffrey "Jeff" Carter, the third son, has maintained the lowest public profile among the siblings, focusing primarily on his career in the private sector. Jeff earned a degree in geography and specialized in computer mapping, co-founding a successful computer-mapping company, Computer Mapping Consultants.
The most significant and personal update regarding Jeff Carter's life in the mid-2020s is his health. It was confirmed by his son, Josh, that Jeff has been quietly navigating life with Parkinson's disease. This diagnosis has naturally shifted his focus towards private life and family support.
Despite his private struggle, Jeff’s quiet strength and focus on his family reflect the resilience often associated with the Carter family. His story is a poignant reminder that even the children of presidents face intensely personal challenges, and he remains a devoted father and grandfather.
Amy Carter: The Enduring Activist and Educator
Amy Lynn Carter, the only daughter and youngest child, is arguably the most recognized of the siblings due to her childhood years in the White House. She was a national icon, famously bringing her Siamese cat, Misty Malarky Ying Yang, to the Executive Mansion and reading a book during a State Dinner.
After her time in the White House, Amy pursued a life dedicated to education and political activism, a path that has defined her adult years. She earned a master's degree in art history from Tulane University and has been a passionate advocate for progressive causes.
In her professional life, Amy was a long-beloved preschool teacher in the Albany, Georgia, community for 28 years, demonstrating a deep, consistent commitment to public service outside of the political arena. Her activism, which included participating in sit-ins and protests during the 1980s and 1990s, continues to be a quiet but firm part of her identity.
Amy currently lives a private life in Georgia with her son, Hugo, and remains a powerful, if reserved, figure in the Carter family’s commitment to social justice and civil rights. Her focus today is on family and her continued, quiet support for the values she and her father share.
The Continuing Carter Legacy
The lives of John William "Jack," James Earl "Chip," Donnel Jeffrey "Jeff," and Amy Lynn Carter are a testament to the enduring influence of their parents. In late 2025, as their father, Jimmy Carter, continues his hospice care at home in Plains, the focus of the family has shifted to maintaining the infrastructure of service he and Rosalynn built.
The children and their own families, particularly Jason Carter at The Carter Center, are the torchbearers of this legacy. They ensure that the work on global health, democracy, and human rights—the core mission of The Carter Center—continues uninterrupted. The Carter family, now into its fourth generation of public service, remains a powerful force, proving that the values of humility, faith, and hard work instilled in them on the Georgia farm are still shaping the world today.
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