Ari Nagel, the man who puts Father’s Day in a league of its own, has 165 reasons to celebrate this year. This 48-year-old Brooklyn native, a legend in the realm of reproductive success, just welcomed his 165th child into the world. And if you think that’s impressive, he’s got plans to retire from his prolific pursuits soon—or at least by the time he hits the big 5-0.
Nagel, a 6-feet-2 math professor at Kingsborough Community College, isn’t just tallying up equations. He’s been keeping a meticulous count of his offspring, and it’s safe to say he’s on a roll. From a text sent from a cruise ship in the Bahamas, where he was enjoying quality time with his firstborn, 20-year-old Tyler, and his 7-year-old daughter Topaz (child No. 33, for those keeping track), Nagel explained his decision to slow down. “Physically I can keep going, but there may be increased risks for things like autism with older males,” he elaborated to the New York Post.
But don’t think he’s throwing in the towel just yet. Nagel is currently celebrating the birth of his latest progeny in Connecticut, birthed by a woman who’s now had four of his children. “I have 10 women currently pregnant in the US, Canada, Asia, Africa, and Europe… Zimbabwe and Long Island are due in July, Israel and Queens are due in August,” he boasted, adding that a woman in France is about to pop any moment.
Eight years ago, The Post catapulted Nagel into the limelight, and he’s been delivering sperm samples at a steady clip ever since—sometimes through clinics, other times through non-sexual, face-to-face meetings. “I’ll stop when I’m 50,” he reiterated, almost as if it were a well-rehearsed mantra.
When he’s not busy fathering the future, Nagel is on a quest to be a better dad to his 175 children—34 of whom he has yet to meet. “I’ll never be able to be as good of a dad to my kids as my father was to me,” he lamented, reflecting on his upbringing in an Orthodox Jewish home in Monsey, New York, alongside his six siblings.
“Having lots of kids can bring a lot of happiness and joy into your life, [but] I don’t suggest 175,” he quipped, offering a rare nugget of practical advice.
Despite the staggering number of children, Nagel does make an effort to see many of them—especially the 56 in New York, the 20 in New Jersey, and the 13 in Connecticut. “Some moms don’t want me to play a role, but I leave them the option if they change their mind,” he explained. And change their minds they do, once the inquisitive youngsters start asking questions. To keep track of his ever-expanding brood, Nagel maintains a detailed spreadsheet with names, birthdays, addresses, and phone numbers, and his office at Kingsborough is a veritable shrine to his paternal legacy.
Photos of his children cover nearly every inch of wall space, depicting everything from cooing infants in car seats to uniformed school children posing for pictures, and Nagel playing or snuggling with various kids.
After his Bahamas getaway, Nagel plans to celebrate Father’s Day by taking a handful of his kids and their mothers to the Bronx Zoo, continuing a tradition from last year. “I will receive many cards and gifts,” he said with a smile, anticipating the outpouring of affection from his extensive family.
Nagel’s one piece of advice to his descendants? “Embrace saying ‘Yes’ to doing favors, new experiences, invites, and opportunities. It’s the key to a fulfilling life. I say yes to everything,” he declared. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for his dating life. “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.”
So, as Nagel gears up for another Father’s Day, it’s clear that this modern-day patriarch has a lot to reflect on. But with his boundless energy and optimistic outlook, it’s a safe bet that The Sperminator will find a way to keep on celebrating—one new child at a time.