In an era marked by declining birthrates across much of the developed world, a small but notable group of ultra-wealthy men have been using assisted reproductive technologies to father exceptionally large numbers of children, challenging traditional notions of family size and raising questions about inequality and ethics in fertility practices.

These individuals, including billionaires and tech entrepreneurs, have leveraged virtually unlimited resources to engage in what some describe as “megafatherhood.” Among the notable examples is Stefan Soloviev, a billionaire developer with 22 children; Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, who claims his sperm donations have resulted in more than 100 offspring; and Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who has 14 known children from four women. Although Musk’s total may appear modest relative to others, his public comments and willingness to use surrogacy at scale have drawn attention. Musk reportedly expressed a desire to use surrogates to reach what he called “legion level” of offspring, and he publicly responded to Durov’s reported triple-digit children with a competitive remark.

Reports also detail other figures, including disgraced individuals such as Greg Lindberg and Jeffrey Epstein, who pursued what were described as expansive “baby projects,” often involving the solicitation of egg donations and surrogacy arrangements on a large scale. Some wealthy Chinese men have similarly sought American fertility clinics and surrogacy services to father dozens, if not hundreds, of children. One Chinese businessman, Xu Bo, was publicly accused by a former partner of having at least 300 children, a claim he has denied.

The surge in prolific reproduction among these men is facilitated by advances in reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), sperm donation, and surrogacy. These technologies enable simultaneous pregnancies through multiple surrogates and allow for choices regarding embryo selection, including sex selection and genetic screening. This level of control and scale was not possible in previous generations, when biological and social constraints limited the number of children men could sire.

Motivations cited range from desires to extend genetic legacy and influence—echoing historical monarchs’ emphasis on bloodlines—to aims of genetic “optimization” with claims of philanthropic intent. Some portray their sperm donation or prolific fatherhood as contributions to humanity’s future, while others see their offspring as strategic heirs or instruments for maintaining power. However, critics raise concerns about the commodification of reproduction, potential exploitation of women involved in surrogacy or egg donation, and the welfare of children born into such arrangements.

Reports have highlighted troubling aspects within the fertility industry, including allegations of coercion, unethical medical practices, and legal disputes. Surrogates and egg donors, especially those without substantial means, may face risks ranging from lack of informed consent to emotional and physical hardship. There have been instances where children born through large-scale surrogacy arrangements have faced neglect or custody issues, underscoring questions about responsibility and oversight.

Despite these concerns, there is little indication that regulatory frameworks are keeping pace with the scale and nature of these fertility undertakings by the ultra-wealthy. Many fertility clinics and agencies continue to provide services to these men with minimal restrictions, while ordinary families often struggle with the high costs of reproductive assistance. This disparity highlights broader issues of inequality linked to wealth and power, as well as the ethical challenges posed by new reproductive technologies.

Experts suggest increased oversight of fertility practices and expanded ethical discourse may be necessary to address these emerging practices. However, the ability of the wealthiest individuals to bypass or influence regulations means substantial change may be difficult to achieve. Meanwhile, the phenomenon of “kidmaxxing”—the pursuit of extraordinarily high numbers of offspring by a small elite—raises fundamental questions about the intersection of technology, wealth, and the future of family structures.