Time was when giving birth to quintuplets, or better, meant instant fame and a comfortable fortune. But that was when multiple births were an infrequent act of God. Now with the wide use of fertility pills, which considerably increase the chances, the financial prospects for these families seem to be declining. No more Hollywood contracts, no lifetime annuities. While they can still make a deal, the kind of package the parents wind up with depends more on the cunning of the family negotiator than the number of bright little faces in the bassinets.

In Capetown, South Africa, Colin Rosenkowitz, a shrewd clothing salesman, has done relatively well by his wife Susan and their sextuplets, born in January. A national magazine group is paying the family $150,000 for exclusive story and picture rights for the next five years. In the U.S. Peggy Jo and William Kienast of Liberty Corner, N.J. and their quints, 4, have put themselves into the hands of a new negotiator, the showbiz talent agency of William Morris, in hopes of a windfall in TV commercials. But Edna and Eugene Stanek of Denver, Colo., parents of quintuplets born last fall, say, "We'll have a problem paying the bills."

Beaming over their healthy offspring (left), Susan and Colin Rosenkowitz of South Africa have collected $150,000 already and have greater future expectations than their American counterparts for several reasons: their children are the world's only surviving sextuplets and were born in a small nation, with great national pride in the family, which is convertible into profits. Furthermore, fertility drugs are used less in South Africa, thus lessening the threat of competition.

The Stanek quints (a sixth baby died shortly after birth) posed, and dozed, on the couch with Mom their first day home. The family has received baby furniture, a year's supply of diapers and formula, and baby food for however long it's needed. But money is scarce. A trust fund started by local citizens netted a mere $2,600. The $7,000 they received from a wire service for exclusive picture rights, plus a more recent deal for a little less than that with a Sunday supplement, is keeping the Staneks' debts down for the present.

The Kienast quints (right) playing with the geese are actually working. This pastoral scene is from their third TV commercial. Though the Kienasts refuse to endorse any products they do not actually use, their royalties over the last four years from advertising and magazine commitments have enabled their dad, a former plastics salesman, to buy a piece of the business.