Many people are under the impression that surrogates receive higher compensation when working with celebrity intended parents than non-celebrities.  According to the founder of The Surrogacy Law Center, Stephanie Caballero, Esq., this is one surrogacy myth that requires debunking.

“People naturally think because they are celebrities, surrogates get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars more,” she said. “Surrogates working with high profile clients get paid the same in their contract like any other surrogate.”

There is no difference whatsoever whether carrying for high-profile intended parents or not.

Now, that’s not to say there wouldn’t be certain perks in the contract such as having a professional daily food service, buying only organic food, or having a weekly house cleaner.

In some instances, the new parents may want to treat their surrogate to something special such as a pure-bred puppy or send her and her family on a cruise.

“These are gifts that are outside of the contract,” Caballero said. “But the surrogate is not getting thousands of more dollars.”

Intended parents, high-profile or not, sometimes offer these gestures to their surrogates. Caballero pointed out that the huge difference is there is no extra cash going into the surrogate’s pockets.

“If you did pay surrogates more, then it could be perceived as coercion,” Caballero said. “Potentially, there would be an argument as to whether she [the surrogate] was coming forward freely and voluntarily.”

Just because a high-profile client has a more robust financial portfolio, that’s still no reason to charge them more than any other customer. It’s neither ethical nor is it moral.

“I’m sure Elton John and Kim Kardashian paid the same fees as any other intended parent. Can celebrities and other high-profile clients create more work for the agency and other professionals they are working with? Yes, they can,” quipped Caballero. “But their fee stays the same.”