Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) was the only main character from Friends to get his own spinoff series, which gave his story a proper conclusion. However, a little-known detail from the original show completely shifts how we view his journey. Over the course of its 10 seasons, Friends followed the lives and love stories of Joey, Monica (Courteney Cox), Chandler (Matthew Perry), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), and Ross (David Schwimmer). While most characters experienced relationship ups and downs, Joey stood out as the lovable womanizer who rarely committed.
Known for his charming but often clueless nature, Joey dated many women—Rachel included, in one of the show’s most talked-about plotlines. Although Friends ended without fully wrapping up Joey’s story, his spinoff continued his journey, providing closure. Yet, recalling one surprising job Joey mentioned during Friends adds a new twist that reshapes how fans understand his character’s path beyond the original series.
Joey Donated to a Sperm Bank as Part of a Fertility Study in Friends
Although Joey was primarily an actor, his unstable career often forced him to take on various odd jobs to get by, including working at Central Perk, selling Christmas trees, being a museum tour guide, waitering, and handing out cologne samples. But one surprising job stood out: Joey donated sperm during a hospital fertility study.
In Season 3, Episode “The One With The Jam,” Monica, hoping to have a baby as a single mother, visits a sperm bank and discovers Joey’s file among the donors. It turns out Joey donated sperm during a financially tough time and was paid $700 for it.
By the end of Friends, Joey remains the only single friend without children. However, his sperm donations suggest he may have fathered children, adding an unexpected layer to his character’s story.
What Happened to Joey After His Spinoff TV Show?
In the Joey spinoff, Joey moves to Los Angeles to advance his acting career, accompanied by his sister Gina and nephew Michael. He befriends and eventually enters an on-again, off-again romantic relationship with his neighbor and property manager, Alex Garrett. Despite some disagreements about marriage, the show’s ending hints at a hopeful future together, suggesting Joey might finally settle down.
While Joey may never know how many genetic children he has from his sperm donations, the series concludes with him no longer alone in the legacy of family—finding love and the possibility of commitment for the first time.
