There have never been more than 5, but there were two other periods when there were 5 living former presidents. The first was from March of 1861 to January of 1861. At the time, Presidents Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan were simultaneously alive. The second was from January 20th, 1993 until April 22nd, 1994. Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and H W Bush were simultaneously alive.