“I have had sex with 20000 women before” —— Why Do Male Celebrities Cheat?

American basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain claimed in his autobiography to have had sexual encounters with 20,000 women. While Chamberlain’s autobiography may exaggerate, it raises the question: are male celebrities really so unreliable?



### The Nature of Male Infidelity



Men, celebrities or not, have an innate tendency toward infidelity. Evolutionary psychologist David Buss has studied human mating behavior for years and believes men are more prone to infidelity than women. This is because, from an evolutionary perspective, a species’ success is measured by the number of offspring left behind. For men, the limiting factor is the number of women available. Theoretically, a man who has sexual relations with 100 women over two years could potentially father at least 100 children. For women, the situation is different. The limiting factor for women is the resources a man can provide. Even if a woman has sexual relations with 100 men over two years, she would likely have only one or two children at most. Without sufficient resources, even raising one or two children would be challenging.



A cross-cultural study led by D. P. Schmitt from Bradley University in 2003 found that men desire more sexual partners than women at any age. For example, men hope to have seven sexual partners within 30 years, while women hope for three.



In 1987, psychologists R. D. Clark and E. Hatfield conducted a field study. A moderately attractive member of the opposite sex approached college students with three questions: “Would you like to go out with me tonight?” “Would you come to my apartment?” and “Would you go to bed with me?” No women gave a positive response. In contrast, most men agreed, with 75% of male respondents saying yes.



Of course, even if men have an innate tendency to be unfaithful, not all men have the opportunity to act on it. After all, it takes two to tango. It’s no surprise that women are more likely to engage in casual sex with men of high social status. According to H. Greiling and David Buss from the University of Texas, women often have two unspoken motives for sleeping with strangers: first, to find a better partner; second, to gain material benefits. In 2000, they experimentally verified this hypothesis: both men and women believe women can benefit from casual sex, such as finding a better partner or receiving jewelry and nice clothes. Additionally, promiscuous women often find gifts from lovers attractive.



### The Classic Model of Infidelity



We can now piece together a classic model of infidelity: men have an innate tendency to be unfaithful, and once they achieve fame and status, they may act on this tendency. This is an internal driving force. Beyond this internal drive, there is an external pull. When men become wealthy and powerful, they attract more women. Some women sleep with them because they see them as better partners and hope to become their wives. Others may sleep with them for financial gain, similar to how female chimpanzees sometimes exchange sex for bananas.



### The Appeal of Muscular Men



Chamberlain’s case is not so simple. Women are not only attracted to men with social resources but also to the men themselves. Chamberlain’s alleged 20,000 lovers (if true) may also be due to his enviable physical charm: muscular, agile, dominant on the court, and exuding a royal demeanor.



This brings us to another reason for Chamberlain’s promiscuity: he was a muscular man. Muscular men are seen as ideal, sexy partners. Why is that?



Many of men’s secondary sexual characteristics signal that they possess “good genes.” The credibility of these signals is related to their cost. Simply put, the higher the cost of the signal, the more trustworthy it is. A man’s muscularity is like a billboard advertising his value. It tells women that this man is worth having because other men may not be able to afford such muscularity.



Muscularity is linked to testosterone, a hormone that affects male traits. Testosterone suppresses immune function and consumes more energy. Given the disadvantages of muscularity, a man’s ability to maintain it signals robust genetic quality. This impressive “advertisement” appeals to women. “Good genes” can help resist the adverse effects of harsh environments, increasing the chances of survival and reproduction. Women who mate with men possessing “good genes” are more likely to have offspring with “good genes,” thus enhancing their own reproductive success.



According to the strategic pluralism theory proposed by S. W. Gangestad and J. A. Simpson from the University of New Mexico, women ideally seek partners who can provide both resources and “good genes.” However, this is often difficult to achieve. Men who make good husbands are often domesticated but may lack “good genes,” while men with “good genes” are often unreliable and promiscuous. As a result, women may adopt a compromise strategy: finding a reliable man to support them while engaging in affairs with men who have “good genes” when necessary.



Numerous studies support this theory. For example, women are more attracted to other men, especially when their long-term partners lack appeal. Muscular men are favored by women, who perceive them as more attractive, dominant, and suitable as lovers. A survey of 470 American women showed that they typically take only seven days to progress from meeting a muscular man to having sex, compared to 12 weeks with other men. These women also admitted that their recent sexual partners were usually more impressive than their regular ones.



Men with “good genes” often have a history of promiscuity. Their evolutionary “goal” is to spread their seeds as widely as possible rather than to cultivate relationships patiently. This approach allows them to leave behind as many offspring as possible.



In 2009, psychologists W. D. Lassek and S. J. C. Gaulin from the University of Pittsburgh analyzed data from 5,536 men and 6,492 women aged 18 to 59 and found that the more muscular a man is, the more sexual partners he tends to have, and the earlier he is likely to have his first sexual encounter. Additionally, a survey of 527 university students from three French universities revealed that male students in sports departments had twice as many sexual partners in the past year as those in other departments. Research by D. A. Frederick and M. G. Haselton from the University of California, Los Angeles, also showed that muscular men have more casual sexual encounters throughout their lives and are more likely to sleep with married women.



Three reasons why athletes like Chamberlain are prone to infidelity are clear: first, they are men; second, they are men with resources; and third, they are muscular men. These factors combined mean that such men are much more likely to engage in extramarital affairs than the average man. Thus, when news of 20,000 lovers emerges, we need not be surprised. Celebrities like Chamberlain are indeed dangerous variables in the world of marriage.