Chinese billionaires expand their dynasties with US-born children

A Los Angeles family court recently uncovered an unusual surrogacy case involving Chinese billionaire Xu Bo, who has reportedly fathered over 100 US-born children through surrogates. Clerks noticed his name repeatedly while reviewing routine petitions, prompting further investigation.

In a confidential summer 2023 hearing, Xu appeared via video from China, speaking through an interpreter. According to attendees, he told Judge Amy Pellman he hoped to have 20 or more US-born children—“boys, because they’re superior to girls”—to one day take over his business. Several of his children were being cared for by nannies in nearby Irvine, and Xu said he had not yet met them due to work commitments, The Wall Street Journal discovered. 

Judge Pellman denied his parentage request, an unusual rebuke in a system where surrogacy approvals are typically granted quickly. The decision left the children in legal limbo, highlighting a growing, little-known trend: wealthy Chinese citizens going abroad to have children, bypassing China’s domestic surrogacy ban.

Experts say the US surrogacy market has grown increasingly sophisticated to meet international demand. Agencies, law firms, fertility clinics, delivery services, and nanny networks help parents manage the process, sometimes without the parent ever traveling to the US Costs can reach $200,000 per child.

Xu has long publicised his ambitions online. On Weibo, accounts linked to him wrote, “Having more children can solve all problems” and fantasised about his children marrying Elon Musk’s children. A verified 2023 account stated he hoped to have “50 high-quality sons.” 

Other Chinese executives are engaging in similar surrogacy arrangements. Wang Huiwu allegedly hired US egg donors to have 10 girls, “with the aim of one day marrying them off to powerful men,” according to sources familiar with his education company.

Many international clients, including high-powered executives, older parents, and same-sex couples, are drawn to US surrogacy for privacy and legal security.

The political and legal implications are significant. Babies born in the US acquire citizenship under the 14th Amendment, raising questions about foreign nationals exploiting US laws. Last month, Florida Senator Rick Scott introduced a bill to ban surrogacy in the US by citizens of certain countries, including China, citing a federal human trafficking investigation involving a Chinese-American couple with more than two dozen children born via surrogacy in the past four years.

Law enforcement, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, have interviewed some surrogates who worked with Chinese parents, though officials have not disclosed the scope or focus of the investigations.

Xu’s ex-girlfriend Tang Jing has claimed he has 300 children living in multiple countries, a figure his company Duoyi Network disputes. The company confirmed, however, that Xu has “only a little over 100” children born through surrogacy in the US.

By Sabina Mammadli