Ari Nagel, a 48-year-old math professor from Brooklyn, US, is a man with an extraordinary legacy—165 children across the globe. Known as the “Sperminator,” Nagel has spent the last decade helping women realize their dreams of motherhood, but he plans to retire from his unique mission by the time he turns 50.
“Physically, I can keep going, but there may be increased risks for things like autism with older males,” Nagel told The New York Post from a cruise ship in the Bahamas, where he was vacationing with his first son, Tyler, and 7-year-old daughter, Topaz. “I’ll stop when I’m 50.”
Nagel, who works at Kingsborough Community College, recently celebrated the birth of his 165th child, delivered by a mother in Connecticut ahead of Father’s Day. “It was that mom’s fourth child with me,” he proudly shared. His global reach is astounding, with ten more women currently pregnant in the US, Canada, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Despite his prolific contributions, Ari Nagel acknowledges the challenges of fatherhood. “I’ll never be able to be as good of a dad to my kids as my father was to me,” he reflected. Growing up in an Orthodox Jewish household in upstate Monsey, he was surrounded by a supportive family, which he tries to emulate for his numerous children. “Having lots of kids can bring a lot of happiness and joy into your life, [but] I don’t suggest 175,” he added wryly.
Nagel’s unconventional journey began eight years ago when he gained media attention for his sperm donations. Today, he continues to provide sperm samples to one or two women each week, using both clinics and face-to-face, non-sexual meetings.
His dedication to helping aspiring mothers has not waned, but he hopes to be more present for his existing children, 34 of whom he has not yet met.
“I try to be a better father to my 175 children,” Nagel vowed. He maintains a detailed spreadsheet with the names, birthdays, addresses, and phone numbers of each child, and his office walls are covered with their photos. These images capture moments from infancy to school age, illustrating the broad spectrum of his fatherhood.
This Father’s Day, Nagel plans to return from the Bahamas and spend time with some of his children and their mothers at the Bronx Zoo, a tradition they began last year. “I will receive many cards and gifts,” he said, cherishing the bonds he has formed.
He also lamented that he longs for a partner. “I have the dating apps, but haven’t had much success finding a woman who wants to date someone with 165 kids and 10 women pregnant. I’m also pretty broke — which doesn’t help,” he admitted.
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