The captivating story of Natalia Grace has intrigued many people. It has piqued the interest of various individuals, ranging from TikTok investigators to those fascinated by true crime.

Natalia, a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism, was adopted by an American family, and her life has been full of shocking allegations, abandonment, and a quest for her true identity.

One name that keeps coming up in this saga is Jacob Barnett, often mentioned as her brother. So, who is he, and how does he fit into this complex situation? Let’s explore the details, from his impressive intellect to Natalia’s tumultuous journey, and see what’s really happening.

Who Is Natalia Grace’s Brother Jacob Barnett?

Jacob Barnett isn’t your average sibling in this story—he’s a certified genius who’s made headlines for his own achievements. Born in 1998 to Michael and Kristine Barnett, Jacob became the couple’s eldest son when they adopted Natalia in 2010.

After being diagnosed with autism as a young child, he amazed everyone with his extraordinary intelligence—think IQ higher than Einstein and mastering calculus at just eight years old. His mother, Kristine, even penned a book about him titled The Spark, making him a symbol of prodigy success. By the age of 15, he was studying physics in Canada, which prompted the family to leave Indiana behind—among them, leaving Natalia.

In the docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, Jacob is portrayed as both a victim of the chaos and someone who harbored fears about Natalia, claiming that she once attempted to harm him. Now 26, he’s working as a postdoctoral researcher in Spain, avoiding the public eye.

Who Are Natalia Grace’s Adoptive Parents?

Natalia’s adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, kickstarted this entire saga. When they took her in back in 2010, they believed she was a six-year-old Ukrainian orphan with a rare type of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. But things quickly took a bizarre turn.

They began to suspect she might actually be an adult posing as a child, noting her sophisticated vocabulary and other physical characteristics. In 2012, they changed her legal birth year from 2003 to 1989, making her “22,” and by 2013, they had moved her into an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, before relocating to Canada with their three biological kids.

Anyone watching #goodamericanfamily NEEDS to watch the curious case of Natalia grace….they abused and abandoned that little disabled girl. The son not knowing his mic is on talks about them kicking her down the stairs……

— sammy thompson (@Finnessa_5) March 22, 2025

Michael was charged with neglect in 2019 but was cleared of the charges in 2022, while Kristine’s case was dropped in 2023. The couple is now divorced—Michael remains in Indiana, and Kristine lives in Florida—but their controversial story continues to garner attention.

Does Natalia Grace Have a Husband or Boyfriend?

While romance isn’t the focal point of Natalia’s tumultuous life, there’s a bit of news to share. Following her departure from her second adoptive family, the Manses, in 2023, Natalia moved in with the DePaul family in New York, where she met Neil, a British guy she found on Facebook.

They’re now in a relationship and living together under the DePauls’ roof. This is a rare bit of happiness for Natalia, who’s had her fair share of challenges, although trusting others remains a struggle for her. There aren’t any wedding plans just yet, but Neil is there for her as she works through the years of turmoil.

What Is Natalia Grace’s Real Age?

The big question on everyone’s minds: how old is Natalia really? The Barnetts claimed that she was an adult pretending to be a child, but scientific evidence tells a different story.

A DNA test conducted in 2023, featured in Natalia Speaks, determined that she was likely around 22 years old, which suggests she was about nine when she was adopted—not the 20-something her adoptive parents argued she was.

Her original Ukrainian birth certificate lists her birthday as September 4, 2003, and dental records from 2011 support that, showing primary teeth typical of a child under 10. The court’s decision to change her age in 2012 was a wild move, but evidence continuously points toward her being a child when the Barnetts abandoned her.

How Old Was Natalia When She Was Adopted?

Looking back to 2010, the paperwork for Natalia’s adoption indicated she was six, with a birth year of 2003. That’s what the Barnetts believed they were signing up for—a little girl in need of a loving home. However, their doubts set in quickly, and by 2012, they had persuaded a court that she was actually 22.

Fast forward to the 2023 DNA test, and it’s evident she was closer to nine at the time of her adoption. It’s a convoluted timeline, but it illustrates a young girl caught in a whirlwind of adult choices—and a family that chose to walk away when they encountered challenges.

Did Natalia Grace Get a DNA Test?

Yes, she did, and it changed everything. In The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks, which aired in 2024, Natalia sat down with her then-adoptive dad, Antwon Mans, to discuss the results from TruDiagnostic.

The test, conducted through blood samples, estimated her age to be around 22 in August 2023—solid proof she was just a child when the Barnetts left her behind. “This throws every lie they told into the trash,” she remarked, tears welling in her eyes. This isn’t just about proving her age; it’s a crucial step toward rewriting her story.