London: Singer Elton John, worth 222 million pounds, paid just 20,000 pounds to the surrogate mother of his second son Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, who was born in Los Angeles Jan 11.
It is only 3,000 pounds more than he and his partner David Furnish shelled out to the same woman for delivering their first son - two-year-old Zachary. And if they want a third kid with the donor - now a family friend - they will have to shell out just 21,675 pounds.
Elton, 65, paid so little because he used the Center for Surrogate Parenting in Encino, California, which specialises in gay couples, reports thesun.co.uk.
It has also strict rules about the women they use. They must not be on benefits, must not smoke, must be physically fit and must already be bringing up a child of their own - to prevent separation issues.
An insider said: "They do it so they can bring joy and light to married and gay couples who wouldn`t otherwise be able to have children."
Elton is worth 222 million pounds and rakes in 70,000 pounds in royalties every day. But most of that counts for nothing because the rules state surrogate mums are paid only 17,340 pounds for a first child, 20,437 pounds for a second and 21,675 pounds for a third.
They also get expenses but they are capped to block millionaires paying cash under the table and to stop "baby-farming" by creating kids to sell.
Extra payments include 2,500 pounds for pain and distress if a C-section is needed.
Frasier actor Kelsey Grammer, 57, and ex-wife Camille used the same surrogate centre as Elton to have two kids.
IANS
First Published: Monday, January 21, 2013, 09:20
