His older brother was Nicolaus(II) Bernoulli and his uncle was Jacob Bernoulli so he was born into a family of leading mathematicians but also into a family where there was unfortunate rivalry, jealousy and bitterness.
Ang kanyang mga kapatid na lalaki ay mas matanda Nicolaus (II) Bernoulli at ang kanyang tiyuhin ay Jacob Bernoulli kaya siya ay ipinanganak sa isang pamilya ng mga nangungunang mathematicians ngunit din sa isang pamilya kung saan doon ay kapus-palad agawan, selos at kapaitan.