20 Most Famous Brothers in History

20 Most Famous Brothers in History

The world as we know it has had a taste of siblings over the years with the bond of brotherhood being so strong and being supportive of each other’s endeavors in the ever-changing world. The world has however also experienced sibling rivalries with the same intensity as that of strong bonds.

The world has a history full of such brothers whose interaction left a lasting impression not only on each other but also on the lives of those around them and even the world at large. Here let’s take a look at some of the most famous brothers in history:

1. Cain and Abel

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First on our list is a story from the Bible of brothers who are one of the most famous brothers in the world and the first sons of the first man and woman in the world (Adam and Eve) that is Cain and Abel. The two (Cain who was a farmer and Abel a shepherd) used to offer sacrifices to God.

However, God favored the sacrifices of Abel instead of those of Cain which made Cain very jealous of his brother. He killed Abel and buried him (the world’s very first murder) but God saw everything and condemned him to wander the world for the rest of his life.

2. Jacob and Esau

Another one which is also from the Bible is the story of the twins Esau and Jacob, their rivalry started in their mother’s womb. The sons of Isaac and Rebekah (Esau a skillful hunter and Jacob a plain man and a farmer) had a troubled relationship all through their lives. It however started when Esau gave Jacob his birthright in exchange for food.

Jacob later stole Esau’s blessings from their father Isaac by pretending to be Esau, a plan that was arranged by their mother Rebekah, and later sent Jacob away to their uncle’s place for fear Esau may kill him. Though they could later reconcile, their generations after that still lived as enemies.

3. The Wright brothers

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Fast forward to the 19th century, we meet the Wright brothers (Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright) the pioneers of inventing, building, and flying the world’s first successful motor-operated airplane. Their relationship is that of friendship and working together unlike that of Cain and Abel and Jacob and Esau.

What is even more amazing about the Wright brothers is that they were self-taught engineers, they built their tools, they were both excellent pilots and conducted their experiments secretly for fear that their ideas would be stolen. They were also inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1930.

4. The Kennedy brothers

Another great brother in our list is the Kennedy brothers John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy, who are considered to be the most prominent family in US history. Starting with the former US president John F Kennedy who was elected and sworn in as president in 1961, the family could make a political dynasty and dominated the US politics for years.

President Kennedy chose his brother Robert as Attorney General and a year later the youngest of the three was elected senator to take over his brother President Kennedy’s former senate seat in Massachusetts which he held until 2009. Robert also served as a senator until he was assassinated.

5. The Warner Brothers

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The Warner brothers (Albert, Sam, Harry, and Jack) are also one of the most famous brothers in the world. The four brothers were the founders of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. an American entertainment studio that has for years established itself as one of the leaders in the American film industry.

The Warner brothers were visionary businessmen and are considered to be one of the most famous families in Hollywood history. They were all inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their commitment and contribution to the Hollywood film industry. They remain among the most respected people in the film industry and their legacy still lives on years after their demise.

6. The Hemsworth brothers

The Hemsworth brothers (Liam, Chris, and Luke) are also among the most famous brothers in the world. The three brothers are famous for their good looks and successful acting careers, starting with the youngest of the three (Chris Hemsworth) who is known for his role as Thor in MCU and has starred in several other roles in different movies.

Liam Hemsworth (the second) is also popular and a good actor himself and is best known for his role as Gale in the Hunger Games film series and several other roles in other movies. And lastly, the oldest of the three Luke Hemsworth is also famous for his role as Ashley Stubbs in the HBO sci-fi series Westworld and has also starred with his youngest brother in MCUs Thor-Ragnarok.

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7. The Jonas brothers

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Other famous brothers are the Jonas brothers who are Kevin, Nick, and Joel. The three have a pop rock band formed in 2005 and which quickly became one of the most popular pop groups in the world known for their catchy songs and energetic live performances.

The Jonas brothers are award winners on four different American music awards and also have two Grammy nominations. They also have their television shows including “Jonas Brothers: living the Dream” and “Camp Rock”. They also started their career as actors on Disney Channel and moved on to form their band.

8. The Duffer brothers

Next on our list are the Duffer brothers (Matt and Ross Duffer) who are identical twins and are famous for their roles in writing and directing science fiction films, horror films, and television series. The two are best known as the creators, directors, and executive producers of the hit Netflix science fiction horror drama Stranger Things.

Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, and began making movies in the third grade using the HI8 video camera that they were gifted by their parents. The two had a breakthrough in 2015 with the release of their film “Hidden” and later in 2016 came up with “Stranger Things” which could change their career for the better.

9. The Marx Brothers

The Marx brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo, Gummo, and Zeppo) are one of the most known brothers on our list. They formed a family comedy act that was successful in Vaudeville on Broadway and in 14 motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Their real names were Julis Henry Marx (Groucho), Leonard Marx (Chico), Adolf Arthur Marx (Harpo), Milton Marx (Gummo) and Herbert Marx (Zeppo).

They Marx became one of the most successful comedy acts of their time and their films were box office hits and were beloved by both critics and audiences alike. They are still an inspiration to modern comedians and comedy fans worldwide years after their demise.

10. The Jackson brothers

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The Jackson Brothers (Michael, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy, and Dennis) were a family of brothers who formed a pop band. The band was composed of five brothers who initially called themselves “Jackson 5” and later the “Jacksons”. The group was among the first African-American performers to attain a crossover following.

The group was known for their energetic live performances and their elaborate choreography and also for their strong fashion sense including their bell-bottom pants. They helped break down racial barriers in the entertainment industry. Michael Jackson is however the most famous of the Jackson Brothers after quitting the group and making a solo career where he went on to become the pop king.

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11. The Bee Gees

The Bee Gees (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb) is a group of musician brothers who formed the band in 1958. The trio was very successful in popular music in the 60s and early 70s and broke records with their albums selling over 220 million records worldwide.

They also won nine Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. They could also write songs for other artists including Kenny Rodgers (“Islands in the Stream”, 1983) and Dionne Warwick (“Heartbreak”, 1984). the group released a string of hits including “To Love Somebody” (1967) and “Lonely Days”(1972).

12. The Baldwin brothers

The Baldwin brothers consisting of Alec, Daniel, William, and Stephen is a group of brothers who are all renowned actors, starting with the oldest Alexander Rae Baldwin famously known as Alec Baldwin who is a highly acclaimed actor, producer, and comedian and a winner of several Emmy Awards.

His second brother Daniel is also an actor-director and producer, William is an actor, producer, and writer and Stephen is an actor, producer, and author. Though Alec is the most famous of all the Baldwin brothers and has had a more successful acting career. They are also known as one of the most prominent acting dynasties in Hollywood.

13. The Farrelly brothers

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The Farrelly brothers are film film-making family who are film directors, producers, and screenwriters known for directing comedy films “Dumb and Dumber” and “There’s Something About Mary”. They received widespread recognition in the 1990s and 2000s for their outrageous and irreverent humor.

They are known for their collaborations on various comedy films including “Kingpin” (1996),” There’s Something About Mary” (1998),” Stuck on You”(2003), and many more. The Farrelly Brothers’ films are characterized by their mix of slapstick humor, awkward situations, and themes of friendship and acceptance.

14. The Sherman brothers

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The Sherman brothers Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman were American songwriters known for their prolific contributions to the world of film, television, and stage musicals. They are mostly known for their works with Disney and have won numerous awards including Grammy Awards.

Their works include memorable songs in Disney animated films including; “Mary Poppins” (1964), “Chim Chim Cher-ee”) and songs for “The Jungle Book” (1967), “The Aristocrats” (1970) and “Winnie the Pooh” (1966). Their music has been featured in countless Disney productions and has left a mark on the world of entertainment.

15. The Taviani brothers

Another famous brother is the Taviani brothers (Paolo and Vittorio Taviani) who were Italian film directors and screenwriters known for their significant contributions to world cinema who were characterized by their humanity, poetic storytelling, and exploration of historical and social themes.

They often co-wrote, co-directed, and edited their films together. Though the two are late their contributions to the movie and film industry still live on and they are left with a lasting impression on the world of cinema and are remembered as masters of Italian filmmaking.

16. Pogba brothers

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The Pogba brothers (Paul, Florentin, and Mathias) are a group of professional footballers from France who are famous for their success and talent on the field. They were born in Conakry, Guinea, and moved to France at a young age. The youngest Paul who is also the most famous of the three plays as a midfielder for Italian giants Juventus and the French national team.

He has also won numerous accolades including the World Cup and UEFA Europa League and numerous other individual and team awards. His elder brothers Florentin and Mathias who are twins play for ATK Mohun Bagan in the Indian Super League and ASM Belfort respectively.

17. The Hazard brothers

The Hazard brothers (Eden, Thorgan, Kylian, and Ethan) are a Belgian family of four brothers who are professional footballers who are renowned for their playing prowess more so in attacking football. The eldest and perhaps the most famous of the brothers Eden Hazard is an attacking midfielder who has played for top European sides including Chelsea and Real Madrid before his contract was terminated.

He is renowned as one of the best players of his generation. The second is Thorgan Hazard who has also had a successful career playing for Chelsea, and Borrusia Dortmund, while the third Kylian has also been on the books at Chelsea FC and plays for RWDM and lastly the youngest who is currently playing for Tubize Academy.

18. The Charlton brothers

The Charlton brothers (Bobby and Jack) are also a footballing family who are renowned as two of the greatest English footballers of all time. They were both on the England national team side that won the 1966 World Cup, with Jack playing as a defender while Bobby played as a striker.

They were also inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame and played together for the England national team on 24 occasions and never lost a match that they played together. They were both capped over 100 times by their country. The two could go on to become successful managers after retiring from playing and sadly Jack died in 2020.

19. The Neville brothers

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The Neville brothers (Gary and Phil) are also two of the most successful brothers in English football history, playing for both Manchester United and the English National Team where they won numerous trophies and individual awards.

Gary played as a right-back while Phil played as a left back and the two were key to England and Manchester United’s successes in the 1990s and 2000s. They were known for their versatility and intelligence when it came to defending and they continued making significant contributions to the game even after retiring.

20. The Manning brothers

The Manning brothers (Peyton and Eli) are also two of the most famous brothers on our list and they are regarded as two of the most famous quarterbacks in NFL history. They are both known for their intelligence and humility and they support each other to achieve greatness.

Peyton Manning played won two Super Bowls and was named the NFL MVP five times while Eli Manning also won two Super Bowls and was named the Super Bowl MVP twice. The two are also known for their close relationship, have always been supportive of each other, and have worked on several projects.

In conclusion, the list is so long but these are some of the most popular ones. Some of these brothers have been known to have had both close relationships while others have hard sibling rivalry that even led to death or life-lasting enmity. Most of these brothers are however very successful in their career and have left a lasting impression on their world for generations.