In an emotionally charged revelation, Telegram founder and billionaire Pavel Durov has announced that he plans to split his entire fortune—estimated at over $17 billion—among more than 100 children he fathered over the past 15 years, mostly via sperm donation. Speaking to a magazine, the 40-year-old tech mogul confirmed he is the biological father of at least 106 children, six conceived naturally with three partners and the rest born in 12 countries through anonymous donations.
“I want to specify that I make no difference between my children: There are those who were conceived naturally and those who come from my sperm donations,” Durov was quoted as saying. “They are all my children, and will all have the same rights!”
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and Forbes, Durov’s net worth currently ranges from $13.9 billion to $17.1 billion. That means each child stands to inherit between $131 million and $161 million—eventually. In a move reflecting his belief in independence and resilience, Durov said the inheritance will be locked until June 19, 2055, exactly 30 years after the interview date.
“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.
This dramatic plan, Durov revealed, was formalized while preparing his will—a precaution prompted by what he described as “risks involved” in his line of work. The statement likely alludes to his current legal troubles in France. In August 2024, he was arrested at Bourget Airport near Paris after arriving from Azerbaijan aboard his private jet. French authorities are investigating him for alleged complicity in enabling crimes such as child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime via Telegram.
The arrest was part of a sweeping inquiry led by OFMIN, a French agency combatting violence against minors. Magistrates extended Durov’s detention for up to 96 hours for further questioning. By law, he must be either charged or released after that period. The CEO, however, denies all allegations. “Nothing has ever been proven showing that I am, even for a second, guilty of anything,” he told Le Point. He also doubled down on his commitment to privacy: “Defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states.”
Telegram, which Durov founded in 2013, has publicly defended him. In a firm statement shared across its social media platforms, the company said: “Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”
The platform also reiterated its compliance with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, and emphasized that its content moderation policies meet industry standards.
Known for its strong encryption and refusal to hand over user data—even under pressure—Telegram has become a haven for privacy-conscious users, now numbering close to a billion globally. But its uncompromising stance has also drawn criticism from law enforcement. Durov, however, remains unshaken: “Just because criminals use our messaging service, among many others, doesn’t make those who run it criminals,” he said.
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