Do age gaps really matter in family planning? No one said siblings must be close in age, yet many parents struggle with guilt if they have kids too far apart. Will they be friends? Will I feel like I'm starting over? Will I be able to give my youngest the attention they deserve and vice versa? It's a lot of pressure! Still, if these Hollywood parents are any indication, it doesn't actually matter as much as you might think.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most siblings are born anywhere from two and two-and-a-half years apart (it's also the time period recommended by health experts), but reality doesn't always follow expectations, as situations like divorce, infertility, health, finances, and emotional readiness are reasons why some wait to have more children.
If you space out your kids, you'll have more time to recover (and enjoy) each child without feeling as overwhelmed, kids can really appreciate what it means to be a big or little sibling, and working parents may return to their jobs more quickly than they might with babies closer in age.
For some Hollywood celebs, the wait was worth it. David and Victoria Beckham welcomed their daughter Harper 12 years after the birth of their first child Brooklyn, an age gap (along with that between their second son Romeo and third son Cruz) which made the boys protective over their sister.
Reese Witherspoon once said her eldest children, Ava (who was born in 1999) and Deacon Phillippe (born in 2003) were "just so in love" with their baby brother Tennessee, who came along in 2012. And even KUWTK super fans wouldn't necessarily realize that Kris Jenner waited 18 years after the birth of Kourtney Kardashian to have Kylie Jenner.
So if your children are far apart in age, you can expect lots of nice perks in store for your family. Check out which famous parents decided to have kids on their own timetable.
(A version of this article was originally published in Feb. 2022.)
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Megan FoxMegan Fox
Megan Fox had three sons with ex-husband Brian Austin Green who were fairly close in age: Noah, born in 2012, Bodhi, born in 2014, and Journey, born in 2016. After going through a divorce, dating Machine Gun Kelly, experiencing a miscarriage, and breaking up with Machine Gun Kelly, Fox welcomed another baby: daughter Saga Blade, born in 2025.
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Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian waited six years to give their eldest daughter Olympia, born in 2017, a sister. Now that Alexis, born in 2023, is here, the two are best friends!
"[Olympia is] able to have a lot more fun with her sister in terms of playing. You can already see the interactions between them," Ohanian said in a 2024 episode of his Business Dad podcast. "It's a big age gap, and Olympia has a little bit of that maternal spirit. She's like, 'This is my baby,' and it's great to see them together," he continued.
"They play and sort wrestle and all that. We're very lucky because Adira's got a great personality and Olympia does too, plus she's so excited to be a big sis. So seeing the two of them interact with each other has been a special kind of fun," he revealed, later joking that "I guess at some point they're going to fight over things, but for now, let me live in bliss."
In a 2024 interview with Byrdie, Williams reflected on retiring from tennis in Sept. 2022 to have another baby. "I love sports and being active," Williams said. "Leaving something I was still good at to be a mom was such a difficult decision. But I wanted another kid, so I had to do that. Now it's about finding balance and doing other things I've always loved."
"I can't say that a Wimbledon trophy holds a candle to volunteering at my kid's school," she added.
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Donald Trump's oldest child and youngest child are 28 years apart. The US president is dad to Donald Trump, Jr., born in 1977, Ivanka Trump, born in 1981, and Eric Trump, born in 1984, with the late Ivana Trump; Tiffany Trump, born in 1993 with ex Marla Maples; and Barron Trump, born in 2006, with wife Melania Trump.
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Al Pacino and Noor Alfallah welcomed baby Roman in 2023, which was 34 years after his firstborn daughter Julie, with ex Jan Tarrant, was born. Al Pacino is also parents to twins Anton and Olivia, born in 2001, with ex Beverly D'Angelo. To put it in perspective: Pacino was a dad for four years before his current girlfriend was even born!
Jenna DewanJenna Dewan
Between her firstborn and secondborn, Jenna Dewan's kids have a 7-year age gap. The Rookie star shares daughter Everly, born in 2013, with ex Channing Tatum, and kids Callum, born in 2020, and Rhiannon, born in 2024, with fiancé Steve Kazee.
After her son was born, Dewan shared a sweet photo of him and Everly hugging. "All those times i worried about the age gap and if they would bond…😂❤️🥰," she wrote on Instagram. "worrying is a waste of time and energy. Trust🙏🏻"
Robert De NiroRobert De Niro
Robert De Niro's family has grown between 1976 and 2023 with the addition of seven children. He adopted Drena, born in 1971, after marrying her mother Diahnne Abbott in 1976. From there, he welcomed son Ralphael, born in 1976, with Diahnne. In 1995, he welcomed twins Airyn and Julian with actress Toukie Smith. De Niro married Grace Hightower in 1997 and welcomed Elliot in 1998 and Helen in 2011, who was born via surrogate. De Niro welcomed his daughter Gia Virginia in 2023 with girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
In 2024, De Niro told AARP that fatherhood "feels great." "Everything that I'm consumed with or worried about just goes away when I look at her," he continued. "It's wondrous."
Mick JaggerMick Jagger
Mick Jagger has eight children across five decades. These include daughter Karis, born in 1970, with actress Marsha Hunt; daughter Jade, born in 1971, with ex-wife Bianca Jagger; Elizabeth, born in 1984, James, born in 1985, Georgia May, born in 1992, and Gabriel, born in 1997, with ex-wife Jerry Hall; Lucas, born in 1999, with model Luciana Morad Gimenez; and Deveraux, born in 2016, with girlfriend Melanie Hamrick.
In case you lost count, that's a 46-year age gap between youngest and oldest!
"You get a bit out of practice — it's not like riding a bike," the Rolling Stones frontman told The Guardian in 2023. "The more children you have, the more laissez-faire you get about them, to be honest. It's fun to have children, at any age. But if you're working, and always away, you don't get to enjoy it as much."
Gisele BündchenGisele Bündchen
Gisele Bündchen's first two kids with ex Tom Brady are fairly close in age, Vivian was born in 2012, and Benjamin was born in 2009. But her youngest son, who she shares with boyfriend Joaquim Valente, was born in 2025. The 13- and 16-year age gap doesn't seem to bother the kids, who love their baby brother!
Celine DionCeline Dion
Celine Dion's son René-Charles was born in 2001 after the singer and her late husband Rene Angelil went through fertility treatments. But it would be another decade or so — and six more IVF tries — before the couple conceived again. In 2010, Dion gave birth to twins Nelson and Eddy.
Jennifer ConnellyJennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly and her former partner, photographer David Dugan, share a son named Kai who was born in 1997. When the actress married actor Paul Bettany in 2003, they didn't wait long to have their first child together — son Stellan was born that year while daughter Agnes made her appearance in 2011.
Reese WitherspoonReese Witherspoon
In 1999, Reese Witherspoon was only 23 when she gave birth to her first child, Ava Phillippe, whom she shares with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe. "I don't have any sisters, I don't have any aunts. I was alone in a new city, in Los Angeles, and I literally had no friends. I would cry," the actress told The View in 2021.
Ava's brother Deacon was born in 2003, four years before his parents finalized their divorce. Witherspoon met her now-ex Jim Toth in 2010 and welcomed their first child together, son Tennessee, two years later.
Witherspoon has attributed the age difference between her children to their loving relationship. "It's kinda great because my older kids are just so in love with their baby brother and help out so much," she told TODAY. "It's kind of like having this big extended family."
Nicole KidmanNicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman adopted two children during her marriage to Tom Cruise: Isabella, born in 1992, and son, Connor, born in 1995. The couple finalized their divorce in 2001 and Kidman married country singer Keith Urban in 2006.
The couple share daughters Sunday, born in 2008, and Faith, who came along in 2010.
Kris JennerKris Jenner
Kris Jenner's six children are all close — but not necessarily in age. Kourtney came along in 1979, Kim in 1980, Khloé in 1984, and Rob in 1987.
Jenner then gave birth to Kendall in 1995 and Kylie in 1997. Another way to think about it: Kourtney is 18 years older than Kylie.
Kate HudsonKate Hudson
Kate Hudson's son Ryder was born in 2004, during her marriage to The Black Crowes' frontman Chris Robinson. She also shares son Bingham, born in 2011, with ex Matt Bellamy, and daughter Rani, born in 2018, with fiance Danny Fujikawa. Between each kid, there is a 7-year age gap!
MadonnaMadonna
Madonna's six children vary widely in age — daughter Lourdes made her debut in 1996 with son Rocco following in 2000. The pop star adopted son David Banda, who was born in 2005. and daughter Merci, born in 2006.
The pop singer also adopted twins Estere and Stella, who were born in 2012.
Lionel RichieLionel Richie
Lionel Richie's eldest daughter Nicole Richie was born in 1981 and she was adopted by the singer and his ex-wife Brenda Harvey at age nine. "Nicole was actually a godsend. She was a little girl who needed a shot," the American Idol judge told PEOPLE in 2022.
Lionel and his ex-wife Diane Alexander welcomed son Miles Brockman in 1994 and daughter Sofia Richie in 1998.
David Beckham & Victoria Beckham
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David Beckham and Victoria Beckham's first son Brooklyn was born only a few months before their 1999 wedding. His little brother Romeo entered the world in 2002 and their brother Cruz in 2005.
The Beckhams juggled boys until 2011 when baby girl Harper Seven was born.
With three big brothers, David was confident that his daughter would be protected. "She's got three brothers that will take her, three brothers that will eat with her and three brothers that will bring her back home and a dad waiting for her," he told Access Hollywood when asked about Harper dating in the future. "So yeah, we'll see. That'll be interesting."
Bruce WillisBruce Willis
Bruce Willis has five daughters, with his eldest 26 years older than his youngest. While married to Demi Moore, Rumer was born in 1988 with her sister Scout following in 1991 and Tallulah in 1994. The couple divorced in 2000.
In 2009, the Die Hard star married model Emma Heming and they added daughter Mabel to their blended family in 2012 followed by Evelyn in 2014.
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