The billionaire who wanted 100 sons: Why Chinese gaming tycoon Xu Bo’s surrogacy plan hit a legal wall in the US

Highlights

• Xu Bo, Chinese gaming billionaire, reportedly fathers over 100 children in the US via surrogacy.
  
• California court denies his petitions for parental rights.
  
• Xu’s plans reportedly inspired by Elon Musk, with focus on producing sons to take over his business.
  

Chinese billionaire fathers more than 100 children

Xu Bo, 48, founder of online gaming firm Duoyi, has reportedly fathered over 100 children in the United States through surrogacy agencies. Xu, who has called himself “China’s first father,” has stated on social media that his goal includes siring “50 high-quality sons,” according to posts verified by the Wall Street Journal.

The claims gained renewed attention after Xu’s former girlfriend, Tang Jing, alleged in November that he may have fathered more than 300 children, including 11 she said she personally raised for several years.

“That number might even be undercounted, but it’s certainly not exaggerated,” Tang wrote in a social media post, according to reports.

Ongoing custody disputes

Xu and Tang are engaged in a custody dispute over their two daughters. Xu has claimed that Tang owes him millions of dollars in expenses he paid over the years. He has not publicly responded to her claims regarding the total number of children he fathered.

Video shows dozens of children in California

A 2022 video posted by an account linked to Xu reportedly shows dozens of young boys inside a large California residence. As the camera pans, the children rush toward the person filming, shouting “Daddy!” in Chinese. The video caption reads: “Imagine a bunch of babies rushing towards you—how does that feel? Take a look. Besides your loved one, what’s cuter than children?”

A Duoyi spokesperson told WSJ that “much of what you described is untrue” but did not clarify which claims were inaccurate.

Inspiration from Elon Musk

Reports indicate that Xu’s approach is inspired by Elon Musk, who has denied any efforts to expand his bloodline through acquaintances. On China’s social media platform Weibo, Xu reportedly expressed hopes that his children could one day marry Musk’s children.

California court denies parental claims

Court records cited by the Wall Street Journal show that in summer 2023, a California judge reviewed petitions filed by Xu seeking parental rights for four unborn children and at least eight others born via surrogacy. Xu appeared via video, telling the court he hoped to father 20 or more US-born children, specifically boys, whom he believed could eventually inherit his business.

The judge rejected Xu’s petitions, leaving the unborn children without legal parental recognition. Several of Xu’s children reportedly live in a home in Irvine, California, cared for by nannies. Xu told the court he had not yet met them due to work commitments but planned to bring them to China.