Pavel Durov, the billionaire co-founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, has made headlines with his astonishing revelation: he has fathered more than 100 children and intends to leave his estimated $17 billion fortune to them. In a candid interview with French magazine *Le Point*, Durov, who is 40 years old, shared details about his unique family situation, which includes six officially recognized children and many others conceived through sperm donation.
Durov explained that while he has six children with three different partners, the majority of his offspring come from anonymous sperm donations he made over the years. “The clinic, where I started donating sperm fifteen years ago to help a friend, told me that more than 100 babies had been conceived this way in 12 countries,” he stated.
With a net worth of approximately $17.1 billion, according to Forbes, Durov plans to distribute his wealth equally among all of his children. However, he has set a stipulation: they will not have access to their inheritance until they reach the age of 30. “I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, and to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account,” he explained.
Durov emphasized that he sees no distinction between his children, regardless of whether they were conceived naturally or through donation. “I don’t want them to tear each other apart after my death,” he added, highlighting his desire for unity among his large family.
The billionaire first revealed the extent of his progeny in a Telegram post in July 2024, expressing surprise at the number of biological children he has. He recounted how a friend had initially approached him for a sperm donation due to fertility issues, which led to his ongoing contributions. “The boss of the clinic told me that ‘high-quality donor material’ was in short supply and that it was my civic duty to donate more sperm to help more couples,” Durov recalled.
In addition to his parenting plans, Durov has expressed a desire to “open-source” his DNA to facilitate connections among his biological children. He has no regrets about his decision to donate sperm, viewing it as a positive contribution to society.
Durov co-founded Telegram with his brother Nikolai in 2013, and the app has since grown to boast over 1 billion active monthly users. However, his entrepreneurial journey has not been without controversy. In August 2024, Durov was arrested and indicted in France on charges related to the distribution of child pornography and drug trafficking associated with Telegram. He has vehemently denied these allegations, asserting that the app is not responsible for the actions of its users.
“It’s totally absurd. Just because criminals use our messaging service among many others doesn’t make those who run it criminals,” he stated, defending his position and maintaining his innocence.
Durov’s story has sparked conversations about unconventional family structures and the responsibilities of wealthy individuals toward their offspring. His commitment to ensuring that all of his children are treated equally and given the opportunity to forge their own paths is a noteworthy aspect of his narrative.
As the world watches, it remains to be seen how Durov’s unique approach to parenthood and wealth distribution will unfold in the years to come. His story serves as a reminder that family dynamics can take many forms, and the legacies we leave behind can be as diverse as the lives we lead.