Big fame and big families

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By Deborah Netburn and Emily Christianson

Jon and Kate Gosselin shot to stardom when they took their super-sized family to a TLCreality show called “Jon and Kate Plus 8.” The Pennsylvania couple flaunted their life and their little ones -- twin daughters and a set of sextuplets, for the world to see and America couldn’t get enough. Life in the spotlight proved to be too much for Jon and Kate and the couple eventually split, but the show must go on. Now, TLC is relaunching, “Kate Plus 8” -- with Jon dropping by for a cameo once in a while. Ouch! (Michael Pilla / Getty Images)

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Before there was Angelina there was Mia Farrow. Downy haired and freckle faced, the actress was adopting kids from foreign locals when Miss Jolie was still in diapers. Over the years Farrow has amassed a brood that totals 14. With her first husband Andrew Previn she adopted three children and birthed 3 children. With long time life partner Woody Allen she adopted two children and birthed one. And then she adopted five additional children as a sole parent. Plus, several of her children have disabilities that make them “difficult to place” in adoption speak. Take that Jolie! (Emile Wamsteker / AP)

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Mel Gibson’s conservative Catholic views are widely known. Considering the church’s views on birth control, it should come as no surprise that Gibson’s family is larger than the typical Hollywood star’s - six sons and one daughter. He’s not finished yet. Gibson and his girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, (he separated from his wife, Robyn, of 28 years in April 2009) are expecting a baby in December. Now, he calls himself “Octo-Mel.” (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP/Getty Images)

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Though his annual muscular dystrophy telethon raises millions each year for “Jerry’s Kids,” Jerry Lewis’ real life kids have gotten much less attention. He has six sons, the oldest is 62. With his second wife he had one daughter, born in 1992. (Masahiko Yamamoto / AP)

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Eddie Murphy, third from left, with unidentified family members, had five children with his wife of 13 years. He also has two sons from two previous relationships. After his divorce in 2006, he briefly dated former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, who got pregnant and claimed Murphy was the father. Murphy eventually conceded that he was the father, making the girl his eighth child. (Hector Mata AFP/Getty Images)

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In some cultures having a ton of children and being able to care for all of them is a sign of power. In modern day Los Angeles it’s a sign of affluence. So it should come as no surprise that Steven Spielberg (shown with daughter Sasha) one of the most powerful and richest of Hollywood’s major players has seven kids. In typical LA fashion the large family is not conventional: he’s got one biological kid from an early marriage to Amy Irving, three biological kids with current wife Kate Capshaw, two kids that he adopted with Capshaw and one step daughter. Sprawling! (Mark J. Terrill / AP)

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Jerry Lee Lewis had six wives and six kids. Rock & Roll baby! (Mogens Flindt / EPA)

By Deborah Netburn and Patrick Day

March 13, 2007 12 AM PT

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Times Staff Writers

The internet is abuzz with stories about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie preparing to expand their brood yet again--this time with a 3 1/2 year old boy from Vietnam who care workers say is shy and likes to play soccer.

With the addition of this new adoptee Pitt and Jolie’s brood will grow to a nice even four, but we doubt they’re done yet. “I’m having so much fun!” Jolie recently told reporters. “I just want more kids!”

We always thought being from a wealthy and sprawling fabulous family sounded like a ton of fun, but in general the rich and famous have kept their broods rather small. Not all of them though. who like to think big when it comes to family.

Big fame and big families

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