“15 years later — what happened to the world’s first surviving octuplets?” 🎉 Born into controversy and raised in the spotlight, Nadya Suleman’s eight miracle babies just turned 15. From media chaos to a quiet, healthy life, here’s how the “Octomom” family looks today. Full story in the article 👇
On January 26, 2024, a truly rare milestone was celebrated — the 15th birthday of the world’s first surviving octuplets. That’s eight babies born at once, all from the same mother, and all of them alive and well today.
While there have been previous cases of octuplets, none had survived like this group. The six boys and two girls were delivered by C-section on January 26, 2009, in the United States. Their mother, 34-year-old Nadya Suleman, was already raising six children at the time — four boys and two girls — all conceived through IVF. Overnight, she became the mother of 14.
At the time, Nadya was single, unemployed, and had no partner involved in raising any of the children.
Her story raised eyebrows across the world. Why did she choose to carry so many embryos at once? Nadya claims she was misled by her fertility doctor, who implanted 12 embryos in total. The doctor argued it was her request — but the medical board didn’t agree. He was stripped of his license for violating medical ethics, and the U.S. tightened IVF regulations afterward. During the now-famous birth, a team of 46 doctors and nurses were present.
The media dubbed Nadya “Octomom,” a play on “octo” — meaning eight — as in octopus.
Public opinion about her was divided. Many accused Nadya of endangering her babies just to become famous. She faced threats, had her car windows smashed, and even protests outside her home demanding she lose custody of the children.
But Nadya insisted she did it out of love for children — not for fame or fortune. Still, she agreed to a reality TV deal focused on her octuplets. The network later pulled out due to ethical concerns.
Left to raise 14 children alone, Nadya struggled financially. At one point, she admitted to starring in an adult film to make ends meet. Yet before that, she found money for a round of plastic surgeries, emerging with a post-pregnancy appearance that resembled a glamour model.
She eventually filed for personal bankruptcy, but also became a regular guest on American talk shows — most likely for a fee. Today, she’s active on Instagram, where she mostly shares photos of the octuplets. Her older children rarely appear in her posts, likely due to public interest focusing on the famous eight.
Despite the chaos of their early years, the Suleman family seems to be doing okay. They live modestly — in a three-bedroom home where the children take turns eating in the small kitchen — but they’re healthy, clothed, and well cared for.
Last year, when schools shifted to remote learning, Nadya proudly posted a photo of all nine of her younger kids (the octuplets plus one older sibling) working on separate laptops — nine laptops lined up in one room.
Whether or not the octuplets were once seen as a media-driven “investment,” the most important thing today is that they are thriving. They’re healthy, active, and socially engaged. Nadya promotes a strict healthy lifestyle at home — the entire family follows a vegan diet and stays active through sports.
And most importantly, this very big family seems to be full of love.
What do you think of Octomom’s journey over the last 15 years? Share your thoughts in the comments!
