'Do I Even Have a Right to Know?': US Surrogate Sought Billionaire Five Times Before 100+ Child Shock

A US surrogate tried five times to meet the intended father of the baby she was carrying before learning he was Chinese billionaire and video game executive Xu Bo, who has been reported to have more than 100 children through US surrogacy arrangements.

The woman, referred to as 'Judy' to protect her identity, was 12 weeks pregnant when CBS News told her that documents identified Xu as the intended father. She had been told she was carrying a child for a single father who wanted a 'big family'.

'It leaves me wondering: do I even have a right to know?' Judy said after learning more about the intended father's reported family arrangements. The number of children Xu has is disputed, with his former partner Tang Jing alleging he could have as many as 300, while Xu has said he has custody of 12 children born through surrogacy in the US.

What The Investigation Found

The wider investigation involved interviews with 32 surrogates and a review of contracts and court documents. It found examples of intended parents using several surrogates simultaneously, with some women saying they were not told about the scale of those arrangements.

Judy said she responded to a surrogacy advertisement because she hoped the arrangement would improve the financial security of her family and her seven-year-old daughter. After being matched through Patriot Conceptions, she said she was told the intended parent was a single father.

She said she asked how many other surrogates he had hired and was told the number was close to two dozen. She later learned that Xu was reportedly working with more than 20 other surrogates at the same time.

An image posted on a social media account linked to Xu showed more than 100 young children seated in rows. A Chinese-language statement attributed to him said that 'more children bring more blessings' and that he wanted his actions to contribute to China's long-term development.

Xu has disputed larger claims about his family. Tang has alleged he could have as many as 300 children, while Xu has said he has custody of 12 children born through surrogacy in the US.

Judy Questions What She Was Told

Judy said she entered the arrangement to help another family while earning money to support her daughter. She said she repeatedly asked to meet Xu but was unable to do so.

Describing what she imagined when told the intended parent wanted a large family, Judy said she was 'picturing Sound of Music'.

She questioned whether women entering surrogacy agreements should be given more information about intended parents, including their other arrangements. Xu and his representatives did not respond to repeated requests for comment, while Patriot Conceptions declined a request for an interview.

Questions Over US Surrogacy Protections

The investigation has raised questions about disclosure requirements in the US surrogacy industry. Attorney Melissa Brisman, who has represented surrogates and intended parents, told the investigation that there are no laws governing how many surrogates one set of intended parents can use simultaneously.

California was a major destination for the arrangements examined, with all 32 surrogates interviewed having undergone embryo transfers there, including some who lived elsewhere.

The investigation found other women were also unaware when intended parents were using several surrogates at once. For Judy, the issue is whether she should have been told more about the intended father before agreeing to carry his child.