Chinese Gaming Tycoon’s Custody Request Rejected by Court
Claims Emerge on Social Media of “More Than 100 Children”
Controversy is growing over citizenship policies and ethical issues as Chinese billionaires hire American surrogates and have dozens, or even more than 100, U.S.-born children. What was once a way to circumvent China's birth control policies has, according to some observers, transformed into a desire to emulate 'wealthy family empires' like that of Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla.
On December 15, Yonhap News, citing the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), reported that Chinese tycoons have recently emerged as major clients of the U.S. surrogacy industry, introducing several cases. In 2023, Xu Bo, founder of the Chinese online gaming company Duoyi Network, applied for custody of four children born through surrogacy at the Los Angeles (LA) Family Court in the United States. However, the court rejected his request.
During the court investigation, it was revealed that Xu Bo had already had more than eight children through surrogacy or had ongoing surrogate pregnancies, and that he aimed to have 20 sons with U.S. citizenship for business succession purposes. Appearing remotely at the closed hearing, Xu Bo stated through an interpreter, "I want around 20 U.S.-born children to inherit my business in the future," and added, "I prefer boys over girls." Some of his children were reportedly being raised by nannies while awaiting entry documents for China, and Xu Bo explained, "I have not yet met the children in person because I am busy with work." The presiding judge determined that Xu Bo's plan was closer to 'collecting' children than to ordinary parenting.
Previously, Xu Bo's former girlfriend, who is engaged in a legal dispute with him, claimed on social media that "Xu Bo has 300 children in several countries." In response, Duoyi Network issued an official statement denying that figure but admitted, "After years of effort, he has a little over 100 children," which sparked further controversy.
Evolving into a Sophisticated Industry, Up to 300 Million Won Per Child
The case of Xu Bo is just the tip of the iceberg. The WSJ also reported that Wang Huiwu, an executive at a major education company based in Sichuan Province, China, is known to have purchased eggs from American models and had 10 daughters through surrogacy. Company insiders said, "Wang Huiwu's goal was to have his daughters marry powerful men in the future."
In addition, a variety of groups-including female executives, older parents, and same-sex couples in China-are turning to the U.S. surrogacy market. Many of them possess the financial means to circumvent China's ban on surrogacy while managing potential legal and political risks. Bringing a newborn delivered at a U.S. hospital back to China involves a complex process, including surrogate matching, legal consultation, medical services, childbirth, nanny hiring, and visa issuance. However, a vast 'surrogacy ecosystem' has already developed in the United States to professionally support these procedures, so there are now cases where Chinese parents acquire U.S.-born children without ever traveling to the country themselves. The cost for this process can reach up to $200,000 (about 295 million won) per child.
The main reason China's wealthy prefer the United States is that children born there are granted citizenship under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and they can also avoid China's ban on surrogacy. However, as these practices have become excessive, concerns are rising within the United States as well. Senator Rick Scott has introduced a bill to ban certain foreigners, including Chinese citizens, from using surrogacy services in the U.S., and both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have launched investigations into surrogacy cases linked to Chinese parents.
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