Being a member of an old House of Reventlow, he was born into the family of significant influence and wealth.

He was the third son of Count Christian Ditlev Reventlow and his wife, Benedicte Margrethe von Brockdorff (1673–1739).

His father, an officer and diplomat, had close familial ties to the Danish royal family and had been betrothed to Anna Christiane Gyldenløve (1676–1689), illegitimate daughter of King Christian V of Denmark, who died young.

Furthermore, his paternal aunt was Anne Sophie Reventlow, morganatic wife of King Frederik IV of Denmark, and later Queen of Denmark.

He married in 1737 Baroness Johanne Sophie Frederikke von Bothmer (1718–1754), a daughter of Baron Friedrich Johann von Bothmer (1658–1729), elder brother of Count Hans Caspar von Bothmer.