In June 2023, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend welcomed their son Wren Alexander Stephens just five months after the birth of their daughter Esti Maxine Stephens. They were able to have the babies so close together because Wren was delivered by a surrogate. The model and musician are by no means the only celebrities who have used a surrogate to grow their family.
In 2008, Ricky Martin welcomed sons Matteo and Valentino into the world with the help of a surrogate. A decade later, in December 2018, he announced that he and then-husband Jwan Yosef welcomed a baby girl named Lucia. Then less than a year later, they added baby boy, Renn, to their family, in October 2019.
More from MamásLatinas: Celebrities who have shared their infertility struggles
Although, celebrities may seem to lead a blessed life, that doesn't make them immune to the struggles that non-celebrities go through. Just like regular people, celebrities sometimes face challenges when trying to become parents. Like when Kim Kardashian shared how difficult it was not to be able to carry her daughter Chicago West. "Having a gestational carrier is definitely different, but anyone who says or think it's the easy way oust is completely wrong," she wrote at the time. "People assume it's better because you don't have to deal with the physical changes, pain or complications with delivery, but for me, it was so hard to not carry my own child, especially after I carried North and Saint."
But, the good news is that Kim was able to have not only Chicago with the help of a gestational carrier, but also went on to have her youngest child, Psalm, that way. No matter how you welcome a child, that child is a blessing. Ricky and Kim are just two of the growing list of celebrities to grow their families with the help of a surrogate. See for yourself.
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend had two stork visits in 2023.
First the couple welcomed their daughter Esti Maxine Stephens, who was delivered by Chrissy on January 13, 2023. Then just a few months later, in June, their son Wren Alexander Stephens was born via surrogate.
Paris Hilton and Carter Reum surprised everyone with their baby news.
On January 24, 2023, Paris Hilton shared a picture of her very well-manicured hand with a sweet little baby hand wrapped around her finger and captioned it: “You are already loved beyond words .” That’s how she broke the news that she and her husband, Carter Reum, had become parents. Their son, Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum, was delivered via surrogate.
In 2022, Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson welcomed their son.
The former couple share daughter True and in 2022 they decided to embark on a surrogacy journey that resulted in the birth of their son Tatum on August 5, 2022. Khloé and Tristan have had a tumultuous relationship because Tristan has cheated on Khloé multiple times, but they are both very much present in their children’s lives.
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are parents!
In March 2021, Hilaria and Alec Baldwin welcomed daughter Maria Lucia via surrogate.
Many were surprised by the news that Hilaria and Alec Baldwin had opted to use a surrogate to welcome their daughter daughter Maria Lucia into the world because Hilaria had just given birth to their son Eduardo Pau Lucas just months earlier. That means that Hilaria and her surrogate's pregnancy overlapped a bit, but as one source close to the couple told People, "It's no one's business about a woman's right to choose how and when she expands her family."
Actress Amber Heard welcomed her first child via surrogate on April 8, 2021.
"I’m so excited to share this news with you," the Aquaman actress wrote on Instagram. "Four years ago, I decided I wanted to have a child. I wanted to do it on my own terms. I now appreciate how radical it is for us as women to think about one of the most fundamental parts of our destinies in this way. I hope we arrive at a point in which it’s normalized to not want a ring in order to have a crib. A part of me wants to uphold that my private life is none of anyone’s business. I also get that the nature of my job compels me to take control of this. My daughter was born on April 8, 2021. Her name is Oonagh Paige Heard. She’s the beginning of the rest of my life."
Lance Bass and his hubby Michael Turchin opened up about their journey to becoming parents.
The couple, who got married in 2014, are having twins in November. In an interview with People magazine, they were both candid about how challenging the journey to parenthood has been. Lance felt compelled to share so that others going through a similar journey would know they are not alone.
"You have your vision of how it's all going to go, right?" He said. "When we went into IVF and surrogacy, we had no idea what it was all about. Pretty much everyone we've known had bad luck at the beginning. The first time they tried it, it just did not work. And I feel like that is such a common thing. And it's great that we're able to talk about this because a lot of times I would believe that couples feel very alone in that situation. But to know that other people are going through the same exact thing, it's really comforting."
Anderson Cooper is a dad!
The CNN news anchor announced that he welcomed a son in April 2020. "On Monday I became a father. I've never said that out loud and it astonishes me," he said on his show. "Wyatt Morgan Cooper was born on Monday, weighing just over 7 pounds." He added: "Most of all, I am eternally grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, watched over him lovingly, tenderly and gave birth to him. It's an extraordinary blessing she and all surrogates give to families who can't have children." He also shared a gorgeous photo of the baby on Instagram. "'New life, new hope!' Wyatt Cooper, you couldn’t have come at a better time! I know a friend who can’t wait to meet you! ♥️," the news anchor captioned this adorable post.
Andy Cohen welcomed a son in 2019.
The Bravo personality shared the happy news with his fans that he became a dad to a son in February 2019, all thanks to a surrogate. "WOW! This is my son, Benjamin Allen Cohen. He is 9 lbs 2 ounces !! 20 inches !! Born at 6:35 pm, PT. He is named after my grandfather Ben Allen. I’m in love. And speechless. And eternally grateful to an incredible surrogate. And I’m a dad. Wow. ♥️ ," he captioned the sweet Instagram post at the time.
James Rodriguez had a baby via surrogate.
The soccer player announced the arrival of his second child, a son named Samuel, who was born via a surrogate mother in 2019. The soccer star has been sharing tons of photos of the baby boy and so has his girlfriend and mother of the child, Shannon de Lima.
Kim Kardashian has been open about the fact that a gestational carrier or surrogate is not for everyone.
"There are so many reasons why a couple might need a gestational carrier or a surrogate," she wrote after welcoming baby Chicago through a surrogate in January 2017. "I'm so grateful for modern technology and that this is even possible. It's not for everyone, but I absolutely love my gestational carrier and this was the best experience I’ve ever had. Our gestational carrier gave us the greatest gift one could give. The feeling at the end of the whole process is so rewarding."
Kim and her ex, Kanye West, also had their fourth child, Psalm, through surrogacy.
After having such a positive experience the first time around, the former couple welcomed a second son through a surrogate in May 2019. The adorable little boy's name is Psalm. Although the couple has decided to divorce, they share four beautiful children.
In 2008, Ricky Martin welcomed twin sons via a surrogate.
The surrogate's identity has always been kept private. Ricky is a doting father to his twins, Matteo and Valentino. The boys apparently got along wonderfully with Ricky's former husband, Jwan Yosef. Ricky and Jwan started their relationship in 2016, when the boys were still young.
Ricky Martin and then-husband Jwan Yosef welcomed another baby together in 2018!
Ricky and Jwan expanded their family and revealed in December 2018 that they had welcomed a daughter together. The singer revealed that he and his artist husband, along with his two sons, had fallen in love with their baby girl Lucia.
Ricky and Jwan welcomed another son in 2019.
The former couple welcomed another child together, a baby boy named Renn, who was born in October 2019. "Our son Renn Martin-Yosef has been born," Ricky captioned the gorgeous photo of their newest addition to the family. "The baby has been born."
Zoe Saldana still hasn’t revealed how she welcomed her third child.
“This is something we’re being very meticulous about because of the process of how we completed our family,” Zoe told People regarding how her and husband Marco Perego Saldana had their third baby, son Zen. “When we’re there, when the time comes and our third baby is a little older, and all the forces that helped us have him with us are comfortable then we will share it because we know it would very positive and inspiring to many families that are looking to complete themselves and are not able to do it in the conventional way.”
Giuliana Rancic used a gestational surrogate due to health problems.
Giuliana and her husband Bill Rancic welcomed their son Edward Duke Rancic via gestational surrogate. Her miscarriages and failed IVF attempts are what led them to take this alternative route. Because Giuliana had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, it was risky for her to get pregnant shortly after. "If she’d gotten pregnant, it probably wouldn’t have been a very good outcome because of all the hormones. It would have made the cancer surge. So this was the best option,” Bill told Us Weekly.
Cristiano Ronaldo has four children, three welcomed by surrogate.
The soccer player's sexuality has often been questioned because it is believed he's had three children via surrogate. His first son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., was born in 2010 presumably via surrogate. In 2017, he welcomed twins Eva and Mateo via surrogate. That same year, his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez gave birth to their daughter, Alana.
In January 2016, Tyra Banks confirmed that she welcomed a son via a surrogate with boyfriend Erik Asla.
"The best present we worked and prayed so hard for is finally here," Tyra captioned a picture on Instagram announcing the news. "He's got my fingers and big eyes and his daddy Erik's mouth and chin. As we thank the angel of a woman that carried our miracle baby boy for us, we pray for everyone who struggles to reach this joyous milestone. York Banks Asla, welcome to the world."
Lucy Liu welcomed her son Rockwell Lloyd in 2015.
“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 shared with People, saying she'd always wanted to be a parent but wasn't sure if it would happen for her. She has definitely taken to the role of motherhood beautifully.
Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban welcomed their daughter Faith Margaret via surrogacy in 2008.
Nicole adopted her two eldest children, Connor and Isabella, with ex-husband Tom Cruise. She and current husband, Keith Urban, had daughter Sunday Rose together and used a surrogate to welcome their daughter Faith Margaret.
Sarah Jessica Parker and and Matthew Broderick had twin girls with help from a surrogate.
In 2002, Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick had their son James Wilkie. In 2009, they had twin daughters, Marion and Tabitha, with the help of a surrogate. “This was one of the things we discussed with seriousness that had real possibilities for us," she said in 2009.
Perez Hilton used a surrogate for all three of his children.
The celebrity blogger confirmed that he used an egg donor and surrogate for all three of his kids, son Mario Armando Lavandeira was born in 2013, daughter Mia Alma was born in 2015, and his youngest daughter, Mayte Amor, was born on October 4, 2017.
Jordana Brewster's sons were both welcomed using alternative methods.
"I couldn't carry a baby," she told Cosmo For Latinas in 2014 about the process of becoming a mom to Julian and Rowan. "It [surrogacy] taught me a lot to have to rely on someone else to carry my baby for me, because I'm such a private and self-sufficient person. It's the most intimate leap of faith and trust you can take."
Miguel Bosé surprised the world when he revealed that he had four children.
The Spanish actor and singer has four kids that he welcomed via surrogate. The thing is, no one had seen their faces before an internet hack that exposed them. That's really not how it should have happened and it's unfortunate that the choice was taken away from Miguel.
There was always a lot of confusion surrounding Michael Jackson's three children.
According to reports, Michael used a surrogate to carry his three children Prince Michael, Paris, and Blanket. It is also believed that Michael wasn't the biological father of at least two children, which many suspect to be Prince Michael and Paris. It was all so mysterious. Remember that time he waved baby Prince Michael over the balcony of a hotel in Berlin, Germany? Seriously, how can anyone forget that?
Elton John and husband David Furnish welcomed two babies via surrogate.
Their sons, Elijah Joseph Daniel and Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, were welcomed into the world via surrogate. The couple used the same surrogate mom for both babies. Zachary Jackson was born in 2008 and his brother Elijah Joseph was born in 2013.
Elizabeth Banks welcomed two sons through a surrogate.
She struggled getting pregnant but later opted for surrogacy and now has sons, Magnus and Felix. "It helped that other moms had said that once they had their babies, they forgot they were ever pregnant," she told Women's Health in 2012. "So once my focus became the baby and not the pregnancy, it was a very easy decision."
Neil Patrick Harris' kids were born via surrogate.
The actor welcomed two adorable sons with his husband, David Burtka. Their kids, Harper Grace and Gideon Scott, were both born via surrogate in 2010. The eggs were fertilized with one sperm from Neil and one sperm from David and the twins are fraternal.
Gabrielle Union welcomed her bundle of joy in November 2018.
The actress, who has been open about her long struggle with fertility, revealed that she had welcomed her baby daughter Kaavia through surrogacy. "We are sleepless and delirious but so excited to share that our miracle baby arrived last night via surrogate and 11/7 will forever be etched in our hearts as the most loveliest of all the lovely days," she captioned gorgeous Instagram pics of herself and husband Dwyane Wade with their baby.
Jimmy Fallon and wife Nancy Juvonen have expressed their support for surrogacy.
The Tonight Show host and his wife welcomed two daughters via surrogacy and he has opened up about their journey. "We tried for a long time, for five years," he said on the Today show. "I know people have tried much longer, but if there's anyone out there who is trying and they're just losing hope … just hang in there. Try every avenue; try anything you can do, 'cause you'll get there. You'll end up with a family, and it's so worth it. It is the most 'worth it' thing. I'm just so happy right now. I'm freaking out."
Actress Amy Smart welcomed a baby girl in December 2016.
She shared an adorable Instagram pic in January 2017 to announce the news and she captioned it: "Feeling so grateful to have her in my arms… after years of fertility struggles I give thanks today to our kind, loving surrogate for carrying her."
At Wild Sky Media, we recognize that not all pregnancies and parenting journeys look the same. That’s why across all our sites—CafeMom, LittleThings, Mom.com, and MamásLatinas—we are committed to using inclusive language as much as possible, recognizing that all forms of parenting are valid and celebrating the shared experiences and unique differences among moms, dads, nonbinary and noncisgender parents, and all forms of caregivers.
