Chinese billionaire and video game executive Xu Bo has reportedly fathered more than 100 children through surrogacy arrangements in the United States.
The billionaire, who founded Chinese gaming company Duoyi Network, has come under renewed scrutiny following an investigation into the US surrogacy industry and the experience of a California woman who discovered she was carrying his child.
The woman, identified only as “Judy” to protect her privacy, said she had responded to an Instagram advert offering $120,000 to become a surrogate.
She was reportedly told that the intended father was a single man seeking to expand his family. However, she later discovered through a CBS News investigation that the intended father was Xu Bo.
Judy said she repeatedly attempted to meet the man whose child she was carrying but was unsuccessful, raising concerns about transparency in the surrogacy process.
Reports have put the number of Xu Bo’s children at more than 100, while his former partner has previously alleged that he has as many as 300 children.
However, those figures have been disputed. Xu Bo’s representatives have previously said he has custody of 12 children born through surrogacy in the US, although other reports say he has more than 100 children overall.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Xu had sought to have numerous US-born children through surrogacy and had told a court that he hoped to have around 20 US-born children to eventually succeed him in his business.
The case has renewed debate over transparency, regulation and safeguards within the commercial surrogacy industry in the United States.
