70+ Celebrities Who Used Surrogacy to Have Children (UPDATED 2026)

Kim Kardashian, Elton John, Priyanka Chopra, Cristiano Ronaldo — the list of celebrities who used surrogacy to build their families stretches far longer than most people expect. And it spans continents, from Hollywood to Bollywood, Manila to Manchester.

For some, gestational surrogacy followed years of fertility treatments. For others, it came after cancer diagnoses, pregnancy complications, or conditions that made carrying a child dangerous. Same-sex couples and single parents turned to surrogacy for a biological connection adoption alone couldn’t provide.

What these stories share isn’t wealth or fame. It’s the same fear, hope, and longing that drives thousands of families toward surrogacy every year. The celebrities who used surrogacy simply did it where we could see.

Why So Many Celebrities Choose Surrogacy

Celebrity surrogacy stories grab headlines, but the reasons behind them are deeply personal — and more common than most people realize. Infertility affects roughly 1 in 6 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

The most common reasons include pregnancy complications like placenta accreta, failed IVF cycles, cancer diagnoses requiring hysterectomies, autoimmune conditions, uterine issues like adenomyosis, and same-sex parenthood.

U.S. clinics reported over 11,500 gestational carrier cycles in 2023 — nearly seven times the number tracked in 2004, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The CDC’s ART surveillance data confirms about 2.3% of U.S. births now involve assisted reproductive technology.

That growth isn’t driven by celebrities alone. But high-profile stories normalize the conversation and give other parents permission to explore their options. If you’re unfamiliar with the process itself, our guide on how surrogacy works breaks it down step by step.

Celebrities Who Used Surrogacy: The Complete List

This is the most complete list of celebrities who used surrogacy available online. Each entry covers who they are, when their children arrived, why they chose surrogacy (when public), and details like cost, surrogate identity, or the family’s relationship with their carrier when that information has been shared publicly.

1. Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell

Emily in Paris star Lily Collins and director Charlie McDowell announced their daughter Tove Jane’s arrival via surrogate on January 31, 2025. Collins hadn’t publicly discussed fertility struggles, though she’d previously written about an eating disorder that stopped her menstrual cycle — and her fear it may have damaged her fertility.

The announcement sparked intense online backlash, with critics accusing the couple of treating surrogacy as a lifestyle choice. McDowell defended their decision: “It’s OK to not know why someone might need a surrogate to have a child. It’s OK to spend less time spewing hateful words into the world.”

2. Meghan Trainor and Daryl Sabara

Singer Meghan Trainor and husband Daryl Sabara welcomed their third child — a daughter — via surrogate in January 2025. The couple are already parents to sons Riley and Barry, both carried by Trainor. She told People it “wasn’t our first choice” but doctors agreed surrogacy was the safest path for their family.

“I want people to know that surrogacy is just another beautiful way to build a family,” Trainor said. “It’s not something to whisper about or judge. It’s rooted in trust, science, love, and teamwork. Every family’s journey looks different, and all of them are valid.”

3. Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian experienced preeclampsia during her first pregnancy with daughter North (2013) and placenta accreta with son Saint (2015). Her doctors told her another pregnancy could threaten her life. She and then-husband Kanye West welcomed daughter Chicago in January 2018 and son Psalm in May 2019, both through gestational surrogacy.

“We are incredibly grateful to our surrogate who made our dreams come true with the greatest gift one could give,” Kim wrote after Chicago’s birth. She’s been candid about the emotional complexity of watching someone else carry her children.

4. Khloé Kardashian

Khloé dealt with fertility struggles tied to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis for years before she and Tristan Thompson welcomed their second child, son Tatum, via surrogacy in August 2022. Khloé credited her sister Kim for guiding her through the process.

“If it wasn’t for Kimberly, I definitely don’t think I would have been as comfortable,” she said. She also admitted the experience wasn’t as natural for her as Kim’s had been, calling herself “a control freak” when it came to someone else carrying her baby.

5. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

After losing their son Jack at 20 weeks in 2020, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend expanded their family through surrogacy and pregnancy simultaneously. They welcomed their fourth child, son Wren Alexander, through a surrogate in June 2023 — while Chrissy was pregnant with their third child, Esti.

The couple named their son after their surrogate, Alexandra. “We want to say thank you for this incredible gift you have given us, Alexandra,” Chrissy wrote. “And we are so happy to tell the world he is here, with a name forever connected to you, Wren Alexander Stephens.”

6. Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden

Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden kept their fertility journey extremely private. In January 2020, they announced daughter Raddix’s birth via surrogate after reportedly trying acupuncture, IVF, and other methods. In 2024, they welcomed a second child, son Cardinal, also through surrogacy.

Diaz has spent the last decade away from acting, focused entirely on her growing family. She’s one of the few celebrities to have two children through surrogacy without publicly discussing her medical reasons.

7. Olivia Munn and John Mulaney

In September 2024, Olivia Munn and John Mulaney revealed the birth of daughter Méi June via surrogate. Munn had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and underwent a double mastectomy and hysterectomy — making pregnancy impossible. She managed to retrieve two embryos after her mastectomy.

“I had so many profound emotions about not being able to carry my daughter,” Munn wrote. “When I first met our gestational surrogate we spoke mother to mother. She showed me so much grace and understanding, I knew I had found a real-life angel.” The surrogate remains part of the family’s life.

8. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

Nicole Kidman gave birth to daughter Sunday Rose at age 41. When she and husband Keith Urban wanted another child, pregnancy wasn’t possible. Daughter Faith Margaret arrived in December 2010 through gestational surrogacy in the United States — a necessity since Australia’s surrogacy laws are more restrictive.

“I’ve experienced motherhood in so many different ways,” Kidman told CNN. She also has two adopted children, Isabella and Connor, from her marriage to Tom Cruise. She’s said she would have liked “two or three more” children.

9. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick

After giving birth to son James Wilkie in 2002, Sarah Jessica Parker experienced what doctors call secondary infertility — the inability to conceive after a previous successful pregnancy. She and Matthew Broderick turned to surrogacy when she was 43, and twin daughters Marion and Tabitha arrived in June 2009.

“It would be odd to have made this choice if I was able to, you know, have successful pregnancies since my son’s birth,” Parker told Vogue. The couple reportedly consulted with Elton John and David Furnish about surrogacy before starting their own process.

10. Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade

Gabrielle Union has been one of surrogacy’s most candid advocates. Diagnosed with adenomyosis — a condition where uterine tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus — she endured multiple failed IVF cycles and miscarriages before her doctor recommended surrogacy.

She initially resisted, feeling she was “surrendering to failure.” But in November 2018, she and NBA star Dwyane Wade welcomed daughter Kaavia James through a gestational carrier. Union even selected a surrogate who loved to read — a trait she hoped to see in her daughter.

11. Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas announced daughter Malti Marie’s arrival via surrogate in January 2022. The baby arrived three months premature and spent more than 100 days in the NICU — a harrowing start that Priyanka opened up about to British Vogue.

“I had medical complications,” she told People. “This was a necessary step, and I’m so grateful I was in a position where I could do this. Our surrogate was so generous, kind, lovely and funny, and she took care of this precious gift for us for six months.” Priyanka joins a growing list of celebrities who used surrogacy after facing medical barriers to pregnancy.

12. Paris Hilton and Carter Reum

Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum welcomed son Phoenix in January 2023 and daughter London later that year, both via surrogacy. Hilton has been open about a deep fear of childbirth that stems from past experiences — including her time on The Simple Life when she shared a room with a woman giving birth.

“Childbirth and death are the two things that scare me more than anything in the world,” she told Glamour. The couple began the IVF process during the pandemic, and Kim Kardashian helped advise her on the surrogacy journey.

13. Elton John and David Furnish

Sir Elton John and David Furnish welcomed sons Zachary (born Christmas Day 2010) and Elijah (2013) through the same surrogate in California. They worked with the Center for Surrogate Parenting in Los Angeles and had initially considered adoption, choosing surrogacy after being unable to adopt from Ukraine.

“We decided to go the surrogacy route and have children of our own. The dominoes fell very quickly,” John said. He described their surrogate as “a wonderful, kind and loving woman” and credited fatherhood with changing his perspective on life and slowing down his touring schedule.

14. Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka found their egg donor anonymously and chose a surrogate who had previously helped a same-sex couple. They inserted two eggs — one fertilized with Harris’s sperm, one with Burtka’s — and both took. Fraternal twins Gideon and Harper arrived in October 2010. For same-sex couples considering a similar path, our guide on LGBTQ+ surrogacy covers the process.

“We don’t know whose is whose,” Burtka told People, and Harris added that it doesn’t matter: “I love both children implicitly.” The family has become famous for their elaborate coordinated Halloween costumes — a tradition that started after the twins arrived.

15. Anderson Cooper

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper welcomed son Wyatt in April 2020 and son Sebastian in February 2022, both through surrogacy. Cooper’s late mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, had once offered to serve as his surrogate when she was 85 — an offer he described movingly on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

“It is an extraordinary blessing — what she, and all surrogates give to families who can’t have children,” Cooper said. “My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids.” He co-parents with former partner Benjamin Maisani, who adopted both boys.

16. Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live host and Bravo executive Andy Cohen became a father through surrogacy twice — welcoming son Benjamin in February 2019 and daughter Lucy in April 2022 through different surrogates. Both children are biological siblings, as Cohen used the same egg donor for all his embryos.

Cohen advocated for New York’s legalization of commercial gestational surrogacy, having had to leave the state to start his family in California. “Thank you to my rock star surrogate — ALL surrogates are rockstars, by the way — and everyone who helped make this miracle happen,” he wrote after Lucy’s birth.

17. Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin became a father as a single parent when twins Matteo and Valentino arrived via surrogate in August 2008. “Surrogacy was an intriguing and faster option,” he told People. “I thought, ‘I’m going to jump into this with no fear.’ I put my name on the list for one baby and then found out I got two!”

He later married artist Jwan Yosef, and the couple added daughter Lucia (2018) and son Renn (2019) — also through surrogacy. Martin rejected the term “rented womb,” calling his surrogate “an angelic being” who blessed him with children. The couple divorced in 2023.

18. Elizabeth Banks

Actress Elizabeth Banks has spoken openly about a medical condition that prevented embryos from implanting in her uterine wall — a condition she once called her “broken belly.” She and husband Max Handelman welcomed sons Felix (2011) and Magnus (2012) through surrogacy.

“This experience has exceeded all expectations, taught us a great deal about generosity and gratitude, and established a relationship that will last a lifetime,” Banks said after Magnus’s birth. Their surrogate remains part of the family as an aunt figure. Banks has also been candid about feeling judged for not carrying her children herself.

19. Jimmy Fallon and Nancy Juvonen

Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and his wife Nancy struggled for five years to conceive. After earlier heartbreaks where they’d told friends about a pregnancy only for it not to work out, they kept the surrogacy process entirely private. Daughters Winnie Rose (2013) and Frances Cole (2014) were both born via surrogate.

“We tried before, we told people and then it didn’t happen. It’s just really depressing and hard,” Fallon said on The Tonight Show. “I just want to thank the nurses and the doctor and the surrogate. There are angels in Dallas, Texas.”

20. Rebel Wilson

Rebel Wilson welcomed daughter Royce Lillian via surrogate in November 2022. Wilson had frozen her eggs at 40 and, after learning she had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), decided surrogacy offered a higher statistical chance of success with her single viable embryo.

“Physically I could have carried the baby,” Wilson told Today, “but there was a much higher statistical chance it would work with a surrogate.” She shares Royce with wife Ramona Agruma. Wilson is among the celebrities who used surrogacy not because pregnancy was impossible, but because it was the smarter medical bet.

21. Tyra Banks

After multiple failed IVF cycles, model and TV host Tyra Banks and photographer Erik Asla welcomed son York via surrogacy in January 2016. Banks told People exclusively that “the journey to now has not been an easy process.”

“As I gaze into the beautiful eyes of my son, I think about all the people who struggle with fertility or carrying a child and continue to pray for them every day,” she added. She’s since urged the public to stop asking women about pregnancy plans, noting you “have no idea what people are going through.”

22. Michelle Williams and Thomas Kail

In April 2025, Michelle Williams and director Thomas Kail (Hamilton) welcomed a third child via surrogate. Four months later, the typically private actress opened up on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, giving a shout-out to their surrogate by name.

“I’ve got to give a big shout-out to Christine, because this last baby did not come through my body,” Williams said. “But the miracle of our little girl is thanks to Christine. Maybe you’re watching out there — thank you, Christine.” Williams also shares daughter Matilda with the late Heath Ledger.

23. Naomi Campbell

Supermodel Naomi Campbell welcomed a daughter in 2021 (at age 50) and a son in 2022, confirming in The Times in June 2024 that both children arrived through surrogacy. “I did,” she said when asked directly. Campbell kept the details largely private, which made her announcement one of the more surprising celebrity surrogacy reveals of recent years.

24. Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen

Elvis Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough and husband Ben Smith-Petersen welcomed daughter Tupelo — named after Elvis’s Mississippi birthplace — via surrogate in August 2022. Keough has Lyme disease and told Vanity Fair, “I can carry children, but it felt like the best choice for what I had going on physically with the autoimmune stuff.”

The baby’s existence came to light during Lisa Marie Presley’s funeral in January 2023, when Smith-Petersen read a letter from Riley that referenced their daughter. They reportedly welcomed a second child via surrogate in 2024 or 2025.

25. Kristen Wiig and Avi Rothman

After three years in what she described as an “IVF haze,” Saturday Night Live alum Kristen Wiig and husband Avi Rothman welcomed twin boys Luna and Shiloh via surrogacy in early 2020. Wiig, famously private, didn’t confirm the news publicly until months later.

“So many things were bittersweet,” Wiig told InStyle. “I was over the moon feeling them kick for the first time, but then I would get in my head and ask myself all these questions, like, ‘Why couldn’t I do this?'” She said she wishes she’d spoken up sooner, because so many others were going through the same thing.

26. Lance Bass and Michael Turchin

Former *NSYNC member Lance Bass and husband Michael Turchin welcomed twins Violet and Alexander in October 2021, after years of failed surrogacy attempts. Bass was transparent about the emotional toll, saying he wanted other gay couples to see their process and feel less alone.

“We knew we wanted to be very open and transparent with our experience because we wanted gay couples to be able to relate,” Bass told People. “And give them kind of a blueprint of how to do it. If you want to start that family, start that family. It’s going to be incredible.”

27. Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita

Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson and husband Justin Mikita have two sons — Beckett (2020) and Sullivan (2022) — through surrogacy. Their decision was deeply personal: Mikita is a cancer survivor who underwent chemotherapy at age 14, and his parents had the foresight to bank his sperm before treatment.

“That was something we wanted to honor,” Ferguson told Yahoo Life. He described the surrogate relationship as “a very intense, very intimate relationship” and said he’ll “be forever grateful.” His advice to others considering surrogacy: “Don’t overthink each step. There’s going to be another big decision right around the corner.”

28. Ellen Pompeo

Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo had her first daughter, Stella, naturally in 2009. When she and husband Chris Ivery wanted to grow their family, she discovered she couldn’t carry another pregnancy. Daughter Sienna May arrived via surrogate in 2014, and son Eli in 2016.

Pompeo kept the surrogacy private for two months before announcing Sienna’s birth, joking, “Don’t forget, I am the same girl who had the mayor of New York City marry me and it didn’t get out for five days.” She called surrogacy “an incredible thing to do with your life — to give the gift of carrying someone’s child.”

29. Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro has fathered seven children across multiple relationships, with three born through surrogacy. Twin sons Aaron and Julian (1995) arrived via surrogate with ex-girlfriend Toukie Smith. In 2011, he and then-wife Grace Hightower welcomed daughter Helen via surrogacy as well.

De Niro has never publicly discussed his reasons for choosing surrogacy. He’s one of the earliest A-list male actors to use the process, helping normalize it at a time when celebrity surrogacy was far less common than it is today.

30. Cristiano Ronaldo

Soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo has three children through surrogacy. His eldest son, Cristiano Jr., was born in 2010 through surrogacy in the United States. In 2017, twins Eva and Mateo arrived via a surrogate near San Diego — born just months before partner Georgina Rodriguez gave birth to daughter Alana naturally.

Ronaldo’s home country of Portugal did not permit surrogacy for single men at the time. “Cristiano Ronaldo will not share any reason as to why he chose a surrogate mother,” a representative said. “He is simply grateful that he now has twins.” Reports placed surrogacy costs in the six-figure range.

31. Amber Heard

In July 2021, Amber Heard announced daughter Oonagh Paige’s birth via surrogate, naming the baby after her late mother. Heard said she’d decided years earlier to have a child “on her own terms” and expressed hope that society would reach a point where single motherhood by choice is considered normal.

“I’m just the mom and the dad — all in one,” Heard wrote on Instagram. “I now understand how revolutionary it is for women to think about one of the most fundamental parts of our destinies in this way.” She was among the first major celebrities to frame surrogacy as a choice rooted in female autonomy rather than medical need.

32. Lucy Liu

Actress and director Lucy Liu welcomed son Rockwell Lloyd via gestational surrogacy in 2015 as a single mother. She chose surrogacy primarily because of her work schedule. “It just seemed like the right option for me because I was working and I didn’t know when I was going to be able to stop,” she told People.

“I cried when he came out,” Liu added. She kept the pregnancy private until she was ready, and has since become an advocate for all kinds of families and nontraditional paths to parenthood.

33. Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance

After seven years of failed IVF treatments, Angela Bassett and actor Courtney B. Vance finally turned to surrogacy. Twins Slater and Bronwyn arrived in January 2006. Bassett first learned about surrogacy when a friend mentioned she was having a child that way.

“I was devastated when it didn’t happen again and again,” Bassett said on The Oprah Winfrey Show. “The more we learned about surrogacy, the more we began to think perhaps this was an answer for us.” She described meeting her twins as “the moment we’ve been working toward, praying for.”

Their story remains one of the most emotionally powerful among celebrities who used surrogacy after long fertility battles.

34. Alec and Hilaria Baldwin

With one of the largest families in Hollywood, the Baldwins surprised fans in March 2021 when daughter Maria Lucia arrived via surrogate — just months after Hilaria gave birth to son Eduardo. The couple hasn’t explained their specific reason for choosing surrogacy for that particular child.

Hilaria later wrote on Instagram, “Some of the best advice I was given when considering surrogacy was to be open and talk about it. People stop talking about things they are ashamed of — and this is a beautiful journey where many people work so hard to bring a soul into the world.”

35. Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg

Actress Jamie Chung and actor Bryan Greenberg welcomed twin boys in October 2021 via surrogacy. Chung was refreshingly honest about her reasoning — not infertility, but fear. “I was terrified of becoming pregnant,” she told the press. “I think there’s a little bit of shame.”

She explained that she and Greenberg kept the surrogacy secret until they were ready. “We just did it to protect ourselves,” Chung said. “We announced things when we were ready to.” Her candidness about choosing surrogacy for personal rather than strictly medical reasons opened up new conversations about the practice.

36. Adrienne Bailon and Israel Houghton

Former Cheetah Girls singer and TV host Adrienne Bailon welcomed son Ever James via surrogacy in August 2022 after six years of trying. She underwent eight IVF cycles and multiple miscarriages before her doctor introduced surrogacy — which she initially resisted.

“It just wasn’t what I imagined would be my journey,” Bailon said on The Jennifer Hudson Show. But when Ever arrived, everything changed. She delivered her son herself during a home birth, pulling him out and doing immediate skin-to-skin. “He is worth every tear, every disappointment, every delayed prayer, every IVF cycle, every miscarriage. Everything.”

37. Grimes and Elon Musk

Musician Grimes (Claire Boucher) and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk welcomed daughter Exa Dark Sideræl (nicknamed Y) via surrogate in December 2021. The baby’s existence came to light accidentally during a Vanity Fair interview when Y was heard crying upstairs while Grimes was being photographed.

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” Grimes said when asked if she thought she could hide a baby in her house. She chose surrogacy after a difficult first pregnancy with son X. The couple’s unconventional naming choices and private surrogacy made their story one of the more talked-about reveals of 2022.

38. Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss and husband Todd Tucker welcomed daughter Blaze via surrogate Shadina in November 2019. The decision wasn’t easy for the couple. “Should we do this? How can you trust somebody with your most precious possession?” Burruss said on the Parents podcast.

“But now that it’s all said and done, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was the best decision we could have made.” She credited surrogate Shadina — who had carried for another family before — with teaching them about the process and making the experience positive.

39. Kate Bosworth and Justin Long

In July 2025, sources confirmed to Page Six that Kate Bosworth and Justin Long had welcomed their first child — a baby girl — via surrogate. The couple married in 2023 after dating since 2022.

They kept the pregnancy and birth entirely private, consistent with their preference for keeping personal lives out of the spotlight. Few details about their surrogacy journey have been shared publicly.

40. Colton Underwood and Jordan C. Brown

Former Bachelor star Colton Underwood and husband Jordan C. Brown welcomed son Bishop via surrogate on September 26, 2024. “Our world is a million times better with you in it,” the couple shared on Instagram.

Underwood came out publicly in 2021 and married Brown in 2025. Their surrogacy journey was part of a broader public arc from reality TV star to openly gay father.

41. Jordana Brewster and Andrew Form

Fast & Furious star Jordana Brewster had both sons — Rowan and Julian — through surrogacy with then-husband Andrew Form. The experience left her with complicated feelings about motherhood she’s spoken about openly.

“Sometimes I feel a little left out when other moms talk about what their birth experience was like, and I feel the loss of not having carried or having been able to carry,” she told Yahoo Parenting. “But luckily I keep my circle tight and close, so I never feel judged.”

42. Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent

Interior design power couple Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent welcomed daughter Poppy via surrogate in 2015 and son Oskar in 2018. Berkus offered a thoughtful perspective on the process when speaking with People shortly after Poppy’s birth.

“Surrogacy can be about science, it can be about money, or it can be about intention,” Berkus said. “We were really lucky to have everybody that was involved in allowing us to have our daughter be excited for us.” The couple has been vocal about normalizing same-sex parenting and modern family structures.

43. Tom Ford and Richard Buckley

Fashion designer Tom Ford and late husband Richard Buckley (who died in 2021) welcomed son Alexander John reportedly via surrogate in September 2012. Ford had told Time Out Hong Kong a year earlier, “If I have a child, you won’t notice that I had a child. Maybe you’ll see it when it’s 18, but I will keep it out of the spotlight.”

True to his word, Ford raised Alexander largely out of public view. He’s spoken about how fatherhood changed him, saying it gave him a deeper understanding of love and responsibility that surprised him.

44. Ryan Murphy and David Miller

Television creator Ryan Murphy (Glee, American Horror Story, Pose) and husband David Miller are parents to three sons — Ford, Logan, and Griffin — all born via surrogate. Murphy has been one of the most vocal celebrity advocates for surrogacy in the LGBTQ+ community.

“It’s amazing to be two dads, and we have a wonderful surrogate,” Murphy told E! News. “It’s so uplifting and I’ve enjoyed sharing our story with young gay families.” His public advocacy has helped make surrogacy more visible for same-sex couples considering parenthood.

45. Kelsey and Camille Grammer

Frasier star Kelsey Grammer’s children Jude Gordon and Mason Olivia were born via surrogate with now-ex-wife Camille Grammer. Camille has been more vocal about the experience than Kelsey, writing in a 2012 blog about the emotional complexity of not carrying her own children.

“I wish I could have had that experience. I’m just so grateful I had a wonderful surrogate who carried our two children,” Camille wrote. “I have two amazing angels in my life that I love so much. They are such a gift and a blessing.”

46. Michael Jackson

The late Michael Jackson’s youngest child, Prince Michael II (nicknamed Blanket, later changed to Bigi), was born to an unidentified surrogate in February 2002. The surrogate’s identity has never been made public. Jackson also has two older children — Paris Michael and Michael Joseph Jr. (“Prince”) — whose origins have been discussed publicly over the years.

Blanket’s birth made Jackson one of the highest-profile celebrities who used surrogacy as a single father, at a time when the practice was far less common than it is today.

47. Amy Smart and Carter Oosterhouse

After years of trying to conceive, actress Amy Smart and husband Carter Oosterhouse became first-time parents when daughter Flora arrived via surrogacy in December 2016. Smart captioned an Instagram photo: “After years of fertility struggles, I give thanks today to our kind, loving surrogate for carrying her.”

“I think it’s important to remain open to options,” Smart said. “For example, I would never have seven years ago thought about this.” Her openness about the years-long journey before choosing surrogacy resonated with many families facing similar decisions.

48. Katey Sagal and Kurt Sutter

After medical complications from previous pregnancies made carrying another child impossible, Married with Children star Katey Sagal and husband Kurt Sutter (creator of Sons of Anarchy) welcomed daughter Esme Louise via surrogacy in January 2007.

“We went through the whole in vitro fertilization process and our embryos were not really strong, but we thought, ‘Let’s give it a shot and if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,'” Sagal told People. “And if it wasn’t, we weren’t going to do it. But then our little Esme came through.” She calls Esme a “beautiful miracle.”

49. Dennis Quaid and Kimberly Buffington

Dennis Quaid and then-wife Kimberly Buffington are among the celebrities who used surrogacy after repeated pregnancy loss — they suffered through five miscarriages before choosing this path. Twins Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace arrived on November 8, 2007 via a surrogate in Los Angeles. “God has definitely blessed us,” the couple said.

Days later, the twins were accidentally given 1,000 times the prescribed dose of the blood thinner Heparin at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — a medication error that nearly killed them. Quaid testified before Congress about hospital safety and filed lawsuits that led to changes in drug labeling nationwide. Both twins recovered fully.

50. George Lucas and Mellody Hobson

Star Wars creator George Lucas and wife Mellody Hobson (chair of Starbucks) welcomed daughter Everest via gestational surrogate in August 2013 — just two months after their wedding. Lucas was 69 at the time, and Hobson was 44. Everest was Lucas’s first biological child; he has three older children through adoption from his first marriage.

The couple took a path many older parents-to-be consider when pregnancy isn’t feasible. They’ve kept Everest largely out of the public eye, consistent with Lucas’s post-Star Wars pivot toward private family life.

51. Matt Bomer and Simon Halls

Actor Matt Bomer (White Collar, The Last of Us) and publicist husband Simon Halls are raising three sons — including a set of twins, Henry and Walker, and older brother Kit — all born through surrogacy. Bomer has spoken about prioritizing his children above his Hollywood career.

“I just want to be hopefully somebody who helps shape these souls without changing how they came into the world,” Bomer told People. He lives a relatively quiet family life away from Hollywood’s spotlight, saying authenticity for his children’s sake matters more than public image.

52. Deidre Hall

Days of Our Lives star Deidre Hall was among the earliest celebrities who used surrogacy, welcoming sons David (1992) and Tully (1993) at a time when the practice carried far heavier stigma than it does today. She went public when few others would, helping lay groundwork for the open conversations that followed decades later.

53. Joan Lunden

Former Good Morning America host Joan Lunden turned to surrogacy after five unsuccessful IVF attempts. She and husband Jeff Konigsberg welcomed two sets of twins through surrogacy — Kate and Max in 2003, and Kimberly and Jack in 2005. That gave the couple four children under two at one point, in addition to Lunden’s three older daughters from a previous marriage.

54. Chris Daughtry

American Idol alum Chris Daughtry and wife Deanna turned to gestational surrogacy after Deanna’s partial hysterectomy in 2006 left her unable to carry children. The couple used IVF to create embryos, which were transferred to a surrogate carrier. Twins Noah James and Adalynn Rose arrived in November 2010.

“Our family is overwhelmed with joy by these two precious gifts from God,” Daughtry said. The couple also raised two children from Deanna’s previous relationship.

55. Marissa Jaret Winokur

Tony Award-winning Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur lost her uterus and part of her cervix to cervical cancer. Fortunately, her ovaries weren’t affected and her eggs were preserved. She and husband Judah Miller welcomed son Zev through surrogacy in 2008.

Their surrogate became Zev’s godmother and remains a close part of the family. Winokur has spoken about wanting her surrogate to be a permanent presence in her son’s life — a relationship that continues years later.

56. Giuliana and Bill Rancic

TV host Giuliana Rancic and entrepreneur Bill Rancic documented their fertility struggles on their reality show Giuliana and Bill. After three failed IVF cycles, Giuliana was diagnosed with breast cancer, requiring a double mastectomy. The couple then turned to surrogacy and welcomed son Edward Duke in August 2012.

“I love that she was honest,” Giuliana told People about their surrogate. “It made me realize that the important stuff is what I should be listening for, and that’s when I knew she was the one.”

57. Vern Yip

HGTV design star Vern Yip and his partner welcomed two children through surrogacy — son Gavin in 2010 and daughter Vera in 2013. Yip has been open about his family on social media and in interviews, advocating for LGBTQ+ parents’ visibility. His willingness to share his surrogacy journey publicly helped represent gay fatherhood in a mainstream home-design context where it was rarely discussed.

58. Kristen Welker

Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker and husband John Hughes welcomed two children through surrogacy — daughter Margot Lane in 2021 and son John Zachary in 2024. Welker was candid about the emotional reality of trusting a surrogate with your child.

“I think when you’re embarking on a surrogacy journey for the first time, it is a huge leap of faith,” she told People. She wondered if she’d bond instantly with Margot, but her fears vanished the moment they met. “We bonded immediately. She looked up at me, I looked down at her and told her that I love her more than the entire world.” She called her surrogate “an angel on earth.”

59. Anthony Rapp and Ken Ithiphol

Star Trek: Discovery star Anthony Rapp and fiancé Ken Ithiphol welcomed son Rai Larson in December 2022 via surrogate, followed by son Keony Lee in November 2023. Rapp called their surrogate “truly one of the most incredible and awe-inspiring human beings we have ever met.”

Weeks after Rai’s birth, Rapp shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, describing the depth of gratitude he and Ithiphol felt toward the woman who helped build their family.

60. Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez

After a heartbreaking late-term miscarriage in 2015, Friday Night Lights star Zach Gilford and Kingdom actress Kiele Sanchez decided surrogacy was the right path. Daughter Zeppelin Adele arrived via surrogate in November 2017.

“It’s been a long, painful journey for us,” the couple told People. “Zeppelin is the light of our lives.” They welcomed a son in 2020 before splitting in 2025. Their story is a reminder that surrogacy often follows years of loss and heartbreak before a family finally comes together.

61. Fredrik Eklund and Derek Kaplan

Million Dollar Listing New York real estate broker Fredrik Eklund and husband Derek Kaplan welcomed twins Milla and Fredrik Jr. in November 2017. Their path to parenthood was painful — their surrogate suffered multiple miscarriages before a successful pregnancy.

“It’s the biggest thing that could ever happen to us,” Eklund told People. Learning the news in April while celebrating his 40th birthday in Paris, he added, “That was probably the biggest moment of my life. I felt like it was meant to be, which is hard for me to say because it’s been so difficult.”

62. Shaun T and Scott Blokker

Celebrity fitness expert Shaun T (creator of Insanity and T25 workouts) and husband Scott Blokker welcomed twin sons Sander Vaughn and Silas Rhys via surrogate Ashley. The twins arrived prematurely at 32 weeks but thrived. Shaun T publicly thanked Ashley and her family at their baby shower.

“Ashley, her husband Michael and their children are such selfless people and no words can describe our appreciation for them helping us build our family!” Shaun T wrote. “You are courageous, strong, empowered, dedicated, and such an amazing human.”

63. Shayne Lamas and Nik Richie

Bachelor season 12 winner Shayne Lamas and husband Nik Richie used a uniquely personal surrogate for their son Lyon — her stepmother carried the baby after Lamas suffered a dangerous miscarriage the year before. “I was shocked that my dad was on board with this, to be 100 percent honest,” Lamas told Closer Weekly. The couple also have a daughter, Press Dahl, whom Lamas carried.

International Celebrities Who Used Surrogacy

Surrogacy isn’t just a Hollywood story. From Bollywood to the Philippines to European football, celebrities who used surrogacy span every continent. In India, several actors and filmmakers broke decades of cultural stigma by going public.

In the Philippines — where surrogacy isn’t legal — prominent figures traveled abroad to pursue the process. Here are the international stars who built their families through surrogacy.

64. Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao (Bollywood)

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan and his then-wife Kiran Rao welcomed son Azad Rao Khan via IVF surrogacy in December 2011. Kiran had suffered multiple miscarriages, making surrogacy a medical decision. Khan already had two children from his first marriage to Reena Dutta.

“This baby is especially dear to us because he was born after a long wait and some difficulty,” Khan said. “We were advised to have a baby through IVF surrogacy, and we feel very grateful.” His openness made him “the face of surrogacy in India” — doctors credited him with making thousands of Indian couples comfortable seeking fertility treatment.

65. Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan (Bollywood)

Bollywood’s “King Khan” and wife Gauri already had two children — Aryan and Suhana — when they welcomed son AbRam Khan via surrogacy in May 2013 at a Mumbai hospital. AbRam spent time in the NICU after birth but recovered. His arrival came surrounded by intense media speculation, as Shah Rukh hadn’t publicly announced the pregnancy.

The family’s use of surrogacy, alongside Aamir Khan’s a year earlier, helped shift Indian public attitudes toward assisted reproduction and made surrogacy a more openly discussed topic in Bollywood circles.

66. Karan Johar (Bollywood)

Filmmaker Karan Johar (Koffee with Karan, My Name Is Khan, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham) became a single father when twins Yash and Roohi arrived via surrogacy in February 2017 at a Mumbai hospital. Named after his late parents, the twins represented a deeply personal choice for Johar.

“I have always wanted to be a parent,” Johar has said. His decision to become a single father through surrogacy represented a major cultural moment — a prominent Bollywood figure choosing solo parenthood in a society where marriage and children are traditionally linked.

67. Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra (Bollywood)

Actress Shilpa Shetty and businessman Raj Kundra had their first child, son Viaan, naturally in 2012. Eight years later, they welcomed daughter Samisha via surrogacy in 2020. Shilpa was candid about the frustration that led to the decision.

“I waited for nearly four years, and I was so frustrated,” Shetty said. “We decided to try the surrogacy route.” Her openness about wanting a second child and the years of waiting resonated with fans across India and helped normalize the conversation around surrogacy for women who already have biological children.

68. Preity Zinta and Gene Goodenough (Bollywood)

Actress Preity Zinta and American husband Gene Goodenough announced the arrival of twins Jai and Gia in November 2021, born via surrogacy in the United States. The super-private couple surprised the public with the announcement. “Hi everyone, I wanted to share our amazing news with all of you today,” Preity wrote on Instagram. “Our hearts are full.”

69. Sunny Leone and Daniel Weber (Bollywood)

Actress Sunny Leone and husband Daniel Weber welcomed twin boys Asher Singh and Noah Singh via surrogacy in March 2018. The couple had previously adopted daughter Nisha from Latur, India, in 2017. Leone has spoken openly about building her family through multiple paths.

“Family doesn’t always come in the way you expect,” Leone has said. Her willingness to discuss both adoption and surrogacy publicly helped reduce stigma around both processes in Indian culture.

70. Ekta Kapoor (Bollywood)

Television and film producer Ekta Kapoor (Balaji Telefilms, known for dozens of hit Indian TV shows) became a single mother through surrogacy in January 2019, welcoming son Ravie. Named after Ekta’s father, veteran actor Jeetendra (real name Ravi Kapoor), the baby’s arrival made Kapoor one of India’s most prominent single mothers by choice.

71. Tusshar Kapoor (Bollywood)

Actor Tusshar Kapoor (Golmaal series) made headlines as one of the first single male celebrities in India to become a father through surrogacy. Son Laksshya arrived in 2016, and Kapoor announced the news proudly on social media.

“The paternal instincts in me have been overpowering my heart and mind for some time now,” he wrote. His sister is producer Ekta Kapoor, who also became a single parent through surrogacy — their shared experiences helped normalize the process in Bollywood.

72. Joel Cruz (Philippines)

Filipino perfume mogul Joel Cruz — CEO of Aficionado Germany — holds one of the most extraordinary surrogacy stories in the world. He’s father to eight children, all born through surrogacy in Russia.

The first six share the same biological mother, a Russian woman named Lilia (described as 5’11” and resembling Julia Roberts). The seventh and eighth had different surrogate carriers but still used Lilia’s eggs.

Cruz spent a reported PHP 54 million (roughly $1 million USD) across all eight journeys. His first set of twins cost about PHP 12 million ($215,000), with subsequent sets around PHP 11 million each. Openly gay and a single father, Cruz has been transparent with his children about their origins. “Wala naman akong tinatago sa kanila” — “I don’t hide anything from them.”

73. Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez (Philippines)

Former Philippine senator Mar Roxas and veteran TV journalist Korina Sanchez surprised the nation in February 2019 when they announced twins Pepe and Pilar — born via gestational surrogacy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Korina was 54 and Mar was 61.

The couple had frozen their embryos years earlier — before Korina’s “biological clock stopped ticking” — and worked with a U.S.-based surrogacy facility after years of trying in India. Their surrogate was described as a solo mom and former coffee shop barista who had previously helped another couple. Estimated cost ranged from $75,000 to $150,000.

74. Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho (Philippines)

Filipino celebrity dermatologist Vicki Belo and husband Hayden Kho welcomed daughter Scarlet Snow Belo via gestational surrogacy in 2015. Their journey was one of the most publicized surrogacy stories in the Philippines.

It helped open public conversation about assisted reproduction in a predominantly Catholic country. Scarlet Snow has since become a social media sensation in the Philippines, with millions of followers.

What These Celebrity Surrogacy Stories Teach Us

These 74 entries represent something bigger than tabloid curiosity. They show a shift in how the world understands family building. The celebrities who used surrogacy in this list come from every background — actors, athletes, musicians, TV hosts, filmmakers, tech entrepreneurs, fashion designers, and business moguls. Their reasons span the full spectrum of human experience.

Gestational surrogacy is one of the most medically sophisticated ways a family can be built — and one of the most human. Every surrogate pregnancy involves trust between two families, coordination across medical and legal teams, and a shared hope for a healthy baby.

That’s the kind of care Physician’s Surrogacy was built around. We’re the nation’s only obstetrician-managed surrogacy agency, bringing physician-level oversight to every family’s journey — the same standard of care these celebrities had access to, designed for everyday parents.

How Gestational Surrogacy Actually Works

Nearly every celebrity who used surrogacy on this list chose gestational surrogacy — the most common form today. In this process, an embryo created through IVF is transferred to a gestational carrier who has no genetic connection to the baby. This differs from traditional surrogacy, where the carrier uses her own egg. (Learn more about gestational vs. traditional surrogacy.)

The embryo may come from the intended parents’ own egg and sperm, or it may involve a donor egg, donor sperm, or both.

The surrogate undergoes medical and psychological screening before the process begins. Once matched with intended parents, legal contracts protect everyone involved. After a successful embryo transfer, the surrogate carries the pregnancy with ongoing medical care and support.

Considering Surrogacy? Here’s Your Next Step

If you’re an intended parent exploring surrogacy, you don’t need to figure this out alone. Our team helps families through every phase — from matching with a pre-screened surrogate to delivery and beyond. You don’t have to be one of the celebrities who used surrogacy to get world-class medical care during the process.

And if you’re a woman inspired by these stories and considering becoming a surrogate, we’d love to talk. Surrogates at Physician’s Surrogacy earn $55,000–$75,000+ and receive care from our in-house OB/GYN medical team — including 3–6 months of post-delivery support.

Surrogacy sits at the intersection of modern medicine and profound human generosity. These celebrity stories prove that. Your story could, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrities and Surrogacy