The Whitebeard Pirates are, to date, perhaps one of the most robust pirate crews to ever traverse the world of One Piece. Their size appeared to necessitate a total of 16 division commanders, who each held control and responsibility over a part of the crew. Whitebeard's desire for a family appeared to manifest in him accepting pirates from many different backgrounds and origins to join his organization. This is further compounded by the existence of their many subordinate crews. As an orphan, Whitebeard desired to have a family of his own, which he found in his crew, and by extension the subordinate crews that operated on his behalf.