Most parents would probably call five children a full house. Paul and Jeane Briggs took a very different path. The West Virginia couple never planned to create a “megafamily,” yet decades of individual decisions eventually turned their home into one of America’s most extraordinary adoptive families.
Today, Paul and Jeane are parents to 37 children—five biological and 32 adopted. Their children range from age 10 to 47, and while their story sounds almost unbelievable on paper, the Briggs family says it all happened one child at a time.
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West Virginia couple Paul and Jeane Briggs became parents to 37 children
Based in Falling Waters, West Virginia, Paul Briggs, 71, works in information technology, while Jeane Briggs, 69, has a background in nursing and education.
Together, they have five biological children and 32 adopted children. Fourteen of their children still live with them in their more than 5,000-square-foot home, according to PEOPLE’s July 2026 profile.
| Detail | Information |
| Parents | Paul and Jeane Briggs |
| Location | Falling Waters, West Virginia |
| Total children | 37 |
| Biological children | 5 |
| Adopted children | 32 |
| Children’s ages | 10 to 47 |
| Children currently living at home | 14 |
| First adoption | Abraham, 1985 |
| Historical grocery spending | About $52,000 per year in 2014 |
Paul has made it clear that reaching 37 children was never the plan.
“There was never any talk of a megafamily. There was never this, ‘Well, let’s try to get to this number or that number.’ It was really just a series of events that continued to bring more children in.”
Instead of chasing a number, the couple repeatedly encountered children whose circumstances led them to consider opening their home again.
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Their extraordinary adoption journey began with Abraham in 1985
The story that changed everything began in Mexico.
In 1985, Jeane learned about Abraham, a two-year-old boy living in an orphanage. He was blind and had suffered severe abuse, including broken legs and brain damage. Jeane and Paul traveled to Mexico to meet him, and Jeane immediately felt he belonged with their family.
“I saw him knowing that he could be our child.”
“I knew instantly that we should adopt him.”
Abraham became the first of 32 adopted children. Over the years, the Briggs welcomed children from Mexico, Ghana, Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria.
Many had medical conditions, disabilities or circumstances that made adoption more difficult. Their family has included children dealing with blindness, polio, cleft-related conditions, developmental challenges, learning difficulties and behavioral issues.
Jeane explained in 2014 that they often sought older children and children with special needs because they could be harder to place.
“We never thought that we would have this many.”
Paul also said they never set a numerical limit.
“We’ve never had a number in mind. Even when we had five bio kids and the first adopted raising a family of six, there was never ‘are we done or is there more?’ We do know how to say no. We never thought we could save every child; it’s just what meshes with our family.”
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The Briggs family once spent $52,000 a year on groceries
Now comes one of the most jaw-dropping parts of life in a family this large: food.
When TODAY profiled the Briggs in 2014, the family had 34 children and reportedly spent approximately $52,000 a year on groceries. That figure remains widely repeated, including in more recent coverage, but it refers specifically to their historical grocery spending in 2014 and is not a verified estimate of their current annual bill.
Managing meals required multiple refrigerators, freezers and more than one stove. But Jeane and Paul did not run the household alone.
Children have daily responsibilities and weekly chores, while older siblings help younger ones and even assist Jeane during grocery trips.
Paul explained:
“When you have that many people under one roof, if they don’t have anything to do, they’re going to find something to do.”
The result is a household that functions more like a coordinated team than a traditional family setup.
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Jeane Briggs says motherhood became her career
For Jeane, raising such a huge family was never simply an obligation.
“I just enjoy it. This is my career. I say to my kids, you’re the very air I breathe, so I need you, I need that oxygen.”
Faith has also played a major role in the family’s adoption decisions.
“The ones that we prayed about were the ones for us.”
And incredibly, Jeane has not completely ruled out another adoption.
“If someone knocked on my door with a child… I’d prefer one that’s not a baby.”
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Raising 37 children also brought major medical and emotional challenges
The Briggs family’s journey has not been easy.
Many of the children arrived after experiencing abuse, neglect, starvation, instability or serious medical challenges. A 2014 Associated Press report stated that the children had undergone more than 100 surgeries over the years for conditions including scoliosis, polio, cleft lip, blindness and fetal alcohol syndrome.
Jeane said the family learned to deal directly with problems rather than avoiding them.
“We’ve truly not really ever had any major issues, because we don’t spoil them, and we’re not afraid to deal with any issues that may come up.”
Education also became a major focus. Jeane homeschooled many of the children to provide additional attention, especially because some arrived academically behind due to their medical histories or previous living conditions.
Paul explained:
“Our position isn’t to hide or protect our kids from the world, but really to prepare them for the world. In their countries, being an orphan you’re second class, and higher education was not much of a priority. They’re usually behind the curve, and homeschooling helps them maximize their strengths.”
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What the Briggs children say about growing up in a massive family
Their daughter Mary Kate Johnson, 43 when PEOPLE revisited the family, said watching new siblings join the household was overwhelmingly positive.
“It was a lot to adjust to, but it was always very positive. So much so that I wanted to do it when I got older.”
Joseph, another Briggs child, has also spoken about the importance of finally having a family that wanted him after difficult experiences before adoption.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Susan Heitler has argued more broadly that large sibling networks can sometimes provide children with additional attachment relationships and support.
“If they fall down, many hands reach down to help them up.”
“If they aim to accomplish a goal, whether it’s learning to throw a ball or succeeding at a school athletic event, many sibs are there to coach and assist them, and many voices then chime in to celebrate their victories.”
Her comments were not specifically about the Briggs family, and research discussed in the same Psychology Today article emphasizes that correlations involving sibling numbers do not prove direct cause-and-effect relationships.
Still, the Briggs family’s own experience shows how older siblings can help younger ones navigate daily life.
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Why Paul and Jeane Briggs’ story still fascinates people
Earlier reports described the family as having 34 and later 38 children. The most recent PEOPLE profile identifies 37 children—five biological and 32 adopted. The difference exists because Paul previously counted six biological children when including a pregnancy that ended in miscarriage, while five biological children are living members of the family.
More than four decades after their journey began with Abraham in 1985, the Briggs continue to attract attention because their story was never supposed to become this big.
There was no target. No master plan to raise dozens of children. Just one family repeatedly deciding whether another child in need could fit into their home.
Paul’s explanation may still be the simplest one.
“There was never any talk of a megafamily. There was never this, ‘Well, let’s try to get to this number or that number.’ It was really just a series of events that continued to bring more children in.”
For the Briggs, an extraordinary number eventually became an everyday routine—built around faith, organization, shared responsibility and a home that kept finding room for one more child.
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Disclaimer
This article has been prepared following thorough research based on available reporting and interviews from PEOPLE, TODAY, Inside Edition, Psychology Today, Associated Press reporting published via KSL, and Bored Panda. The $52,000 grocery figure refers specifically to the Briggs family’s reported expenses in 2014 and should not be interpreted as their current annual grocery bill. Family size and biographical details are presented according to the couple’s most recent PEOPLE interview, while historical discrepancies have been explained using earlier reporting.
Sources
- PEOPLE — “Couple Didn’t Dream of a ‘Megafamily,’ but They’ve Ended Up Raising 37 Kids”
- Inside Edition — “38 Kids and Counting: Why This West Virginia Couple Keeps Adopting Children and Doesn’t Plan to Stop”
- Psychology Today — “A Big Family: Does Number of Sibs Impact Divorce Risk?”
- Associated Press report via KSL — “West Virginia couple embraces 34 children”
- Bored Panda — “Couple Adopts Over 30 Kids And Their Grocery Bills Are Insane”
Featured Image Credit: @jeane.briggs (Twitter / TikTok)
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