Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram and a self-made billionaire, has revealed that more than 100 children he has fathered will equally inherit his estimated $13.9 billion fortune. In an interview with Le Point, a French political magazine, Durov emphasized that all his children—biological and those born through sperm donation—will have equal rights to his wealth. This unusual family arrangement stems from his decision to donate sperm over a 15-year period, which reportedly resulted in over 100 children across 12 countries.
Delayed Inheritance to Teach Independence as Durov Faces Criminal Allegations in France
Despite pledging to distribute his wealth equally among all his children, Durov insisted that they would not gain access to their inheritance until they turned 30. He believes that early access to wealth could hinder personal development. His intention, he explained, is for his children to live ordinary lives, build their own paths, and not become reliant on inherited money. This delay is aimed at helping them develop confidence, independence, and creativity.
Telegram Founder Pavel Durov to Split $13.9 Billion Among 100 Children WorldwideThe interview also touched on the criminal charges Durov faces in France. He was arrested last year amid allegations that Telegram was not doing enough to moderate illegal activity on its platform. The charges include failure to combat drug trafficking, child sexual abuse material, and fraud. Durov strongly denied these accusations, calling them “totally absurd.” He argued that the misuse of a platform by criminals does not implicate its creators, and reiterated that Telegram has worked with law enforcement.
Telegram’s Global Rise and Durov’s Exile Amid Privacy, Freedom, and Moderation Controversies
Telegram, known for its encryption and privacy features, has grown to over a billion monthly users since its launch in 2013. While it is praised for protecting user privacy, it has also been criticized for enabling the spread of harmful content due to its weak moderation policies. In the UK, for instance, far-right groups used the app to coordinate violent events. Although some extremist channels were removed, experts argue that Telegram’s content moderation lags far behind other social media platforms.
Born in Russia, Durov has led a controversial and often politically fraught life. He first rose to prominence as the founder of VKontakte, a Russian social network, but claimed he was ousted in 2014 for refusing to censor content under Kremlin orders. Since then, he has lived in exile and is currently based in Dubai, holding dual citizenship in France and the UAE. Durov described his career as risky due to his commitment to defending freedom of speech, which he says has earned him powerful enemies.
