How surrogacy is now a commercial industry worth a staggering $14billion a year fuelled by celebrity endorsements and a growing number of fertility clinics
- Chrissy Tiegan, Paris Hilton, the Kardashians have been open about surrogacy
The combination of celebrity endorsements, growing infertility, and the increased number of fertility clinics has all led to a staggering boom for the commercial surrogacy industry.
As a whole the surrogacy industry is now expected to reach $129 billion by 2023, vastly higher than the estimated $14 billion value of the industry in 2022, according to Global Market Insights.
With the likes of Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum, and Kim Kardashian all opting to take the surrogacy path, an increased number of same-sex couples have become aware of the reproductive option.
Such celebrities have also chosen to be incredibly open about the process – by which another woman carries and births a child on behalf of another individual – further adding to demand.
Though some have raised ethical concerns over paying another woman to have a child, with particular concern over the potential for exploitation by the rich, the process has become increasingly popular.
Chrissy Teigen has opened up about surrogacy following the birth of her fourth child with John Legend
Kim Kardashian is pictured in a family photo with daughters North, Chicago and sons Saint and Psalm
Naturally increased cases of infertility and more options for couples looking to have children by alternative means has aligned with advancements in medical technology.
There has also been a change in social attitudes towards non-traditional families, according to IMARC, which in turn has fuelled the industry from a value of $6 billion in 2018 to around $17.9 billion in 2023.
Swathes of celebrities have been particularly supportive of the process, citing multiple reasons for making their choice.
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have been one such couple advocating the process after welcoming their fourth child via surrogacy last month.
Teigen had previously explained not wanting to carry another child after losing her son Jack 20 weeks into her pregnancy.
She described undergoing IVF again and becoming pregnant with Esti, the couple’s third child.
Teigen described Wren’s birth and profusely thanked Alexandra for carrying their little boy. His middle name, Alexander, was inspired by his surrogate’s name.
In a lengthy post following the birth last month, Teigen described the surrogacy process and watching surrogate Alexandra, ‘the most beautiful woman’, give birth to her child.
Paris Hilton is pictured with husband Carter Reum. The couple welcomed a child via surrogacy earlier this year
Earlier this year Paris Hilton said she decided to use a surrogate as she has always been ‘scared’ of childbirth after welcoming her son Phoenix.
She also said she had previously had her eggs frozen on the advice of Kim Kardashian, and had been planning to have a child on her own before she and Carter met.
But when she and Carter met and tied the knot, they decided to start a family, and during the Covid lockdown they had embryos frozen, and they still have enough to have numerous children in the future.
Kim Kardashian used a surrogate to have two of her four children with Kanye West: children Chicago and Psalm.
She has previously opened up about her during her first two pregnancies.
But she said it was not all smooth sailing and said her she and her then-husband Kanye West, and the surrogate had a therapist to help them through the process.
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