If you’ve spent any time watching cable news or following the high-stakes drama of Capitol Hill over the last decade, you know the face. The sharp suits. The famously rotating hairstyles that once launched a thousand memes. The South Carolina drawl that can go from "folksy neighbor" to "relentless prosecutor" in about three seconds flat.
But for all the time Harold Watson "Trey" Gowdy III has spent in the public eye, people still find themselves googling the basics. Usually, it's about his hair, his net worth, or—most commonly—his age.
How Old is Trey Gowdy Exactly?
Right now, in early 2026, Trey Gowdy is 61 years old. He was born on August 22, 1964. That puts him firmly in the tail end of the Baby Boomer generation, though he often carries himself with a sort of old-school judicial energy that makes him feel like he’s been around the law since the ink was wet on the Constitution.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, and raised in Spartanburg, Gowdy is a Palmetto State product through and through. Honestly, it’s kind of rare to see a political figure stay so tied to their roots even after the DC machine tries to chew them up. He didn't just grow up there; he delivered newspapers for the local daily and worked at a community market. It's that classic "local boy makes good" arc that played well when he eventually ran for office.
The Timeline of a 61-Year-Old Career
To understand why his age comes up so much, you have to look at how much he’s crammed into those six decades. Most people only know him from the Benghazi hearings or his Fox News show, Sunday Night in America, but the guy was a legal powerhouse long before a camera crew ever found him.
- The 20s and 30s: After graduating from Baylor in '86 and getting his J.D. from the University of South Carolina in '89, he spent the 90s in the trenches. He was a federal prosecutor, handling everything from narcotics to bank robberies.
- The 40s: This is where he became a local legend in South Carolina. As the 7th Circuit Solicitor (District Attorney) starting in 2000, he was the guy you didn't want to see across the courtroom. He even popped up on Forensic Files a few times.
- The 50s: The Washington years. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. He was 46 when he was first elected and 54 when he decided he’d finally had enough of the "theatre" of politics.
Why He Left Politics at 54
When Gowdy announced he wasn't seeking re-election in 2018, it caught a lot of people off guard. Usually, once someone gets a chairmanship like he had on the Oversight Committee, they cling to it like a life raft.
He didn't.
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He basically said he missed the justice system and was tired of the political bickering. There’s something kinda refreshing about a guy reaching his mid-50s—the prime of a political career—and just saying, "I'm good, I'd rather go home."
Since then, he’s leaned into his "Elder Statesman" phase. He’s written books like Start, Stay, or Leave (2023) and even dipped his toes into fiction with The Color of Death, which just dropped in August 2025. It’s a dark mystery set in South Carolina, and he’s been vocal about how those old murder cases from his prosecutor days still haunt his head.
Life at 61: Family and Fox News
Gowdy isn't exactly slowing down. He still hosts his show on Fox, often broadcasting from his home state. He’s been married to Terri Dillard Gowdy, a former teacher, since 1989. That’s 37 years if you’re doing the math—a lifetime by modern standards.
They’ve got two adult kids, Watson and Abigail. Watson followed the old man into law, graduating from Washington and Lee, while Abigail went through the University of South Carolina.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume Gowdy is older than 61 because of his white hair or his penchant for quoting historical figures like he was actually there when they spoke. On the flip side, his energy on screen—that fast-talking, interrogator vibe—makes him seem younger to some.
The reality is he’s at that interesting crossroads where he has nothing left to prove in the courtroom or the halls of Congress. He’s comfortably settled into the media world, making more money and likely getting more sleep than he ever did in DC.
If you’re looking to follow his recent work or understand his legal takes on current events, the best move is to catch his Sunday night monologues. He’s moved away from the partisan "firebrand" persona and more toward a "constitutional teacher" role.
Actionable Insights for Following Trey Gowdy in 2026:
- Read his latest book: If you want to see the "prosecutor" side of him without the political filter, The Color of Death is where he’s putting his real-life experiences into narrative form.
- Watch the Monologues: Instead of just catching clips on social media, watch the full opening of Sunday Night in America. It’s where he usually breaks down complex legal precedents into plain English.
- Check the Podcast: For those who find the TV format too restrictive, his podcast allows for much longer, nuanced conversations with guests like Tim Scott or Nikki Haley, where he isn't rushed by commercial breaks.
At 61, Gowdy seems to have figured out what most people in public life never do: how to walk away from power on your own terms and actually enjoy the view from the other side.