Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, has announced plans to divide his fortune equally among more than 100 of his children.
In a recent interview with French political magazine Le Point, the 40-year-old tech entrepreneur revealed the terms of his newly drafted will.
He said he does not differentiate between his six biological children and the many others conceived through sperm donation.
“They are all my children and will all have the same rights! I don’t want them to tear each other apart after my death,” Durov stated.
Children to Wait Three Decades Before Inheriting
Though he has committed to sharing his wealth equally, Durov has also decided that none of the beneficiaries will receive a dime of the fortune for the next 30 years. According to him, the delay is meant to instill character and independence.
“I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account,” he said.
Durov explained that a doctor encouraged him to donate sperm as a civic duty, praising his genetic material as “high-quality.” Over a span of 15 years, the Russian-born billionaire fathered numerous children through sperm banks. His revelation had earlier caused a stir on social media, but Durov appears unbothered by the controversy.
Net Worth Comes from Bitcoin, Not Telegram
Although Bloomberg lists his net worth at $13.9 billion, Durov downplayed that estimate, calling it “theoretical.” He clarified that his liquid wealth is much lower and primarily comes from Bitcoin investments made in 2013, not from Telegram.
Telegram, founded in 2013, has grown into one of the world’s most popular instant messaging platforms, with over a billion monthly users.
The app is known for its privacy-focused features, such as end-to-end encryption and limited regulation of content. Durov is also the platform’s sole shareholder, a role that he says comes with considerable risk.
“My work involves risks—defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states,” he said, adding that his main goal is to protect both his children and the company he built.
Facing Legal Troubles Over Telegram’s Content Oversight
Last year, Durov was arrested in Paris over accusations that Telegram was used for criminal activities including money laundering, drug trafficking, and child pornography. Authorities claimed the platform’s low moderation standards enabled illegal use. However, Durov strongly denied these accusations.
“Just because criminals use our messaging service among many others doesn’t make those who run it criminals,” he argued.
Durov currently resides in Dubai, far from the Russian state with which he has had a long and tense relationship.
He has often styled himself as a defender of digital freedom and privacy, refusing government demands to hand over user data or install backdoors in Telegram’s code.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment, share this article and Follow us on our social media handles.
