After leading the nation, George Washington stepped into the world of spirits, whiskey spirits, that is! In 1797, his farm manager convinced him to open a distillery at Mount Vernon. Within two years, it became one of the largest in the country, producing nearly 11,000 gallons of whiskey annually.

Here’s a fun fact: Washington didn’t need a marketing team. His whiskey was sold in unmarked barrels to local merchants, and his operation was so successful that it became one of the top money-makers in the area. The best part? You can try it today at the reconstructed distillery!

Image: Daniel Vogel

Not one to sit still, Theodore Roosevelt went on an exploration of the Amazon rainforest after leaving office. In 1913, he embarked on a seven-month journey to map an uncharted river. Guess what it’s called today? The Roosevelt River, of course!

The expedition was grueling: he caught malaria, suffered a leg injury, and nearly died. Though he made it back home, his health never fully recovered. Roosevelt’s post-presidency was all about adventure and risks!

Image: Zetong Li

Thomas Jefferson didn’t just help write the Declaration of Independence; he also founded the University of Virginia. A firm believer in education, he wanted to create a university that emphasized academic freedom and rigorous learning. So, in 1819, ten years after leaving office, he established the University of Virginia, which opened in 1825.

Jefferson personally designed the campus, including its iconic Rotunda, and hand-picked the first professors. He once called the university one of his greatest accomplishments, right up there with drafting the Declaration of Independence.

Image: Ryan Ledbetter

John Quincy Adams didn’t believe in retirement, you know? He didn’t go back for a second term, but instead of stepping away from public service, he returned to Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for nine terms until his death in 1848.

His dedication earned him the nickname "Father of the House." Even in his final moments, he was working: he collapsed on the House floor after casting a vote and died two days later. Well, once a public servant, always a public servant.

Image: Ian Hutchinson

Most former presidents take a step back from government, but William Howard Taft went in the opposite direction. After serving as the 27th president, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1921.

He later admitted that being on the Supreme Court was his true calling, famously stating, "I don’t remember that I ever was president." Taft remains the only person in history to have served in both roles! Talk about an upgrade!

Image: Adam Michael Szuscik

Some former presidents write memoirs, but Calvin Coolidge took it a step further. From 1930 to 1931, he wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column titled Thinking Things Over with Calvin Coolidge.

His articles covered a range of topics, from politics to everyday life. As it turns out, running a country gives you plenty to write about!

Image: AbsolutVision

If there’s one president who redefined life after the White House, that is Jimmy Carter. In 1982, he founded the Carter Center, a nonprofit organization focused on democracy, health, and human rights.

He has also spent decades working with Habitat for Humanity, personally helping to build homes for those in need. In 2002, Carter’s humanitarian work earned him the Nobel Peace Prize, making him the only former president to receive the honor for efforts made after leaving office. He once said his post-presidency was "more gratifying" than his time in politics. Only logical, right?

Image: Library of Congress

Yes, that’s a literal title. Ronald Reagan didn’t take up a new career after leaving office, but he did receive an unexpected knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. In 1989, just months after stepping down as president, he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath.

While it’s a prestigious honor, American citizens aren’t allowed to use the title "Sir," so there was no "Sir Ronald" in the works. Reagan wasn’t the only president to receive this honor; Dwight Eisenhower and George H.W. Bush were also knighted.

Image: Annie Spratt

Bill Clinton has always been a gifted speaker, so it’s no surprise that he won not one, but two Grammy Awards, though they weren’t for playing his famous saxophone. He won Best Spoken Word Album in 2004 and 2005, narrating both a children’s book and his autobiography.

Clinton joins a small but prestigious club of American presidents who have won Grammys, including Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter. His ability to captivate audiences didn’t end with politics; he simply found a new stage.

Image: Annie Spratt

After serving two terms as president, George W. Bush discovered a surprising new passion: painting. How about that? In 2012, he began taking art lessons, and by 2013, his paintings were revealed to the public following an email hack.

Bush embraced his new hobby and has since published several collections, including Portraits of Courage, which features paintings of US military veterans. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries, proving that a president can become an artist, too. While politics was his career, painting has become his personal form of expression.

Image: Yannis Papanastasopoulos