Remember Octomom? Nadya Suleman became an overnight sensation in 2009 when she gave birth to octuplets, making headlines across the globe. The controversy surrounding her unusual pregnancy, financial struggles, and high-profile media appearances kept her in the public eye for years. But then, she vanished from the spotlight.
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Now, over a decade later, she is breaking her silence with a new docuseries, Confessions of Octomom, revealing what life has been like raising 14 children while navigating public scrutiny and personal struggles. From her strict parenting rules to her unconventional career choices, here’s a look at what Nadya Suleman’s life is like today.
Octomom returns to the spotlight with a new docuseries
Nadya Suleman, famously known as 'Octomom,' made headlines in 2009 when she gave birth to the first surviving set of octuplets. Now, after years of keeping a low profile, she’s stepping back into the public eye with a brand-new tell-all docuseries, Confessions of Octomom. The six-part series, which premiered on 10 March on Lifetime, reveals the truth behind her controversial past and how she’s raising her 14 children today, reports Today.
Suleman says in the show’s trailer:
I've been waiting to tell my story, and I believe the world is ready to hear it.
The teaser hints at the struggles she and her children have faced, including public scrutiny, social anxiety, and even death threats. Suleman's daughter Nariyah told People in January 2025:
Our mom [will] finally be able to say her side of the story, because I feel like it was very unfair how she was terrorized and hated for just being a mother. And she had to sacrifice so much just for her children.
The documentary will also explore how Suleman’s life has changed since becoming a grandmother as one of her older children welcomed a baby last year.
Who is Nadya Suleman? A look back at her story
Born in Fullerton, California, in 1975, Nadya Suleman became a household name when she welcomed eight babies via in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in January 2009. At the time, she was already a single mother to six children, all also conceived through IVF, and with the same sperm donor. The identity of the father of Suleman’s children remains private, as they were conceived using an anonymous sperm donor. She previously stated that she paid for the donor’s sperm under a business arrangement to ensure clear boundaries.
The controversial pregnancy quickly made her a media sensation, earning her the nickname 'Octomom.'
Her fertility doctor, Dr Michael Kamrava, implanted 12 embryos at once—far beyond the recommended number. The mother of 14 claimed she was ‘misled’ into believing that they lost the first set of six embryos Dr Kamrava had implanted and so they needed to implant another six.
Suleman later claimed she didn’t consent to so many embryos being transferred, but her doctor insisted otherwise. The procedure led to the birth of eight babies, an event that required 46 doctors and nurses to deliver them via C-section.
Dr Kamrava later faced professional consequences for his actions. In June 2011, his medical licence was revoked due to 'gross negligence' in Suleman’s case, as well as in two other instances.
Suleman's tough financial situation
The public scrutiny that followed her fame was intense. With no job and 14 mouths to feed, Suleman took on various roles to support her family, including stripping, boxing, an X-rated video, a nude photoshoot and a $5,000 PETA ad supporting spaying and neutering animals.
As per People, in April 2012, she filed for bankruptcy following the foreclosure of her home, claiming she had £50,000 in assets but was facing £1 million in debt. The petition was ultimately dismissed due to incomplete paperwork.
In 2013, she decided to leave the spotlight and revealed the reason behind it later. In 2018, she told The New York Times:
I was pretending to be a fake, a caricature, which is something I'm not, and I was doing it out of desperation and scarcity so I could provide for my family. I've been hiding from the real world all my life.
I was spiraling down a dark hole. There were no healthy opportunities for Octomom. I was doing what I was told to do and saying what I was told to say. When you're pretending to be something you're not, at least for me, you end up falling on your face.
Suleman's life after fame
Since then, she has worked as a counsellor while raising her children in a much quieter environment. She also has other means of income, doing occasional 'international photoshoots' and has access to public assistance.
Suleman and her children currently live in a three-bedroom home in Orange County, California. But with her octuplets now 16 years old, the public is once again curious about how she has managed such a large family.
Raising 16-year-old octuplets: Nadya Suleman’s parenting rules
Suleman’s octuplets—Noah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Josiah, Makai, Maliyah, and Nariyah—celebrated their 16th birthday in January 2025. Despite growing up in an unconventional situation, their mother seems to have kept a firm grip on their upbringing.
One of her most surprising parenting choices? Her children don’t have phones. Nariyah told People:
We don't have phones. We have one phone for communication.
What’s more? They don’t have social media either. Suleman said:
It's toxic. I don't even like going on it. I only do it to share and I dread it. It's like I can't even imagine the kids these days. It's so unhealthy. I don't believe anyone should go on social media, or be allowed on until they're 18 at least.
Dating is also off-limits until they turn 18. Suleman believes in structure and discipline, a lesson she learned from parenting her older children. She admitted:
I personally believe I failed as a parent to implement all of the knowledge I acquired in college.
I raised them just permissive, which is wrong. You shouldn't do that.
You should implement consistent structure, discipline and consequences, plus love, unconditional love and acceptance. I only did the latter.
The octuplets follow a strict vegan diet and help prepare home-cooked meals, with some of them even taking on the role of 'head chefs' in the household. Their mother emphasizes ethical eating, stating:
We save money because we don't buy animal products. Those are the most expensive, too. And it's the healthiest. But we're ethical vegans.
Despite their disciplined upbringing, the octuplets seem to appreciate their mother’s sacrifices. Suleman’s children have expressed their gratitude, with some eager to contribute financially in the future. They have shared aspirations of being able to support their mother and give her meaningful gifts.
The kids stay active with frequent workouts and community runs, and they often spend their free time playing games or watching movies together.
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Sources used:
People: Where is 'Octomom' now? All about Nadya Suleman’s life after welcoming octuplets in 2009
People: 'Octomom' Nadya Suleman’s family: Everything to know about her 14 kids, including her octuplets
People: No meat, no phones, no social media: Inside Octomom Natalie ‘Nadya’ Suleman’s strict rules for teen octuplets (exclusive)
Today: How to watch ‘Confessions of Octomom,’ the Natalie Suleman docuseries
