A California woman, identified as Judy to protect her privacy, has learned through news reports that she is carrying a child for Chinese gaming billionaire Xu Bo, who allegedly has fathered around 300 children. Judy stated that she only became aware of the child's father when CBS News investigated leaked documents that linked her pregnancy to Xu Bo.
This revelation follows previous reports from the Daily Mail detailing Chinese billionaires using American surrogates to establish large family dynasties. Xu Bo, 48, who amassed his fortune through fantasy video games, has acknowledged a desire for many children but disputes the claim of fathering 300.
Judy's surrogacy journey began after she responded to an Instagram advertisement offering $120,000 for surrogacy. As a single mother, she saw the payment as an opportunity to improve her financial situation. She told CBS that the agency, Patriot Conceptions, presented the intended parent as a single father seeking to expand his family.
"The agency should've been very transparent from before getting matched about who it is that you're having a baby for and what the family is," Judy told CBS.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Xu has over 100 children through surrogacy, with his former partner, Tang Jing, alleging the number could be as high as 300. Xu Bo's company, Duoyi Network, contested some of these reports, acknowledging over 100 children in total but stating he has custody of 12 born through U.S. surrogacy.
Court Proceedings and Parental Rights
The Journal also uncovered court proceedings where Xu petitioned for parental rights over unborn children. A California judge reviewed applications for multiple unborn children fathered or being fathered by Xu, coinciding with his pursuit of more babies through surrogacy. The judge convened a private hearing where Xu appeared via video, expressing a desire to sire at least 20 U.S.-born sons to eventually take over his business. He cited work commitments as the reason he had not yet met his children, who were reportedly living in a home in Irvine, California, cared for by nannies, and stated his intention to bring them to China soon. The judge ultimately rejected his petition for parental rights.
Online Statements and Ambitions
Chinese social media accounts linked to Xu have suggested that "having more children can solve all problems." One post fantasized about Xu's children marrying Elon Musk's 14 children to form an expansive family dynasty. The 48-year-old Xu refers to himself as "China's first father" and has expressed a goal of fathering at least "50 high-quality sons," according to verified social media posts.
Videos linked to Xu have surfaced, including one from 2022 showing dozens of young boys in a mansion, who rush towards the camera shouting "Daddy" in Chinese. A caption accompanying the video reportedly asked, "Imagine a bunch of babies rushing towards you—how does that feel?"
Surrogacy Agency's Response
Patriot Conceptions confirmed its role as the agency for Judy and stated that Xu presented himself as a "single father seeking to build a family." Following public revelations about his activities, the agency reported recommending that the contract with Xu be terminated. "A surrogate should never have to become an investigator to understand the arrangement she is entering," the agency said, adding that they have implemented new protective measures for surrogates.
CBS's investigation highlighted concerns regarding transparency and safeguards within the U.S. surrogacy industry, using Judy's experience as a central example. Judy recounted attempts to meet the intended father multiple times without success and mentioned being told that he was working with dozens of other surrogates, a detail that caused her concern but did not deter her from continuing the pregnancy due to her financial needs.