Being the middle child comes with its reputation, often caught between the trailblazing oldest and the spoiled youngest. But it turns out, some of your favorite stars know that “middle kid” life all too well. From Hollywood A-listers to music icons, these celebs grew up navigating the sibling sandwich and still managed to stand out. Here are 12 celebrities you probably didn’t know were middle children — and how their spot in the family lineup may have shaped the stars they became.
1. Jennifer Lopez
JLo has an older sister, Leslie, and a younger sister, Lynda.
2. Princess Diana
Diana is the second youngest of five, with multiple older and younger siblings
3. Madonna
Madonna is the third of six children in her family. Her older siblings are Anthony and Martin, and her younger siblings are Paula, Christopher, and Melanie
4. Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is the second son among his siblings
Miley is the third of six children, with older siblings Trace and Brandi, and younger siblings Braison and Noah. Her family also includes a half-brother, Christopher Cody Cyrus
6. Jaden Smith
Jaden is the second of three children. His older half-brother is Willard Carroll “Trey” Smith III, and his younger sister is Willow Smith
7. Mark Zuckerberg
Mark has one older sister, Randi, and two younger sisters, Donna and Arielle
8. Michael Jordan
Source: Getty
Michael is the fourth of five children, with two older siblings and two younger siblings. His older siblings are James Jr. and Larry, and his younger siblings are Deloris and Roslyn. According to his biography
9. Zoe Saldaña
Zoe has two sisters: an older sister named Mariel and a younger sister named Cisely
10. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Source: Radio One Staff
King had an older sister, Willie Christine King, and a younger brother, Alfred Daniel Williams King
11. John Legend
John is the second eldest of four children. His siblings include an older brother and two younger siblings
12. Chris Hemsworth
Chris has an older brother, Luke Hemsworth, and a younger brother, Liam Hemsworth
