Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has revealed plans to leave his vast fortune to the more than 100 children he has fathered, both through biological relationships and sperm donation. In a recent interview with French magazine Le Point, Durov explained that he wants to ensure his children don’t fight over his estate after his death. “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,” he said.
Durov, who is estimated to be worth around $13.9 billion, according to Bloomberg, dismissed such estimates as “theoretical,” saying, “Since I’m not selling Telegram, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have this money in a bank account. My liquid assets are much lower – and they don’t come from Telegram: they come from my investment in bitcoin in 2013.” His net worth might actually be higher, with some reports suggesting it could be around $20 billion.
Durov has six children from three different relationships and has also donated sperm to a clinic, resulting in over 100 children born through sperm donation in 12 countries. He revealed that a doctor once told him it was his “civic duty” to donate his “high-quality donor material,” which he did over 15 years.
Durov emphasized that he makes no distinction between his biological children and those conceived through sperm donation, stating, “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’s children will have to wait 30 years before they can access their inheritance. “I decided that my children would not have access to my fortune until a period of 30 years has elapsed, starting from today,” he said. “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.” This decision reflects Durov’s desire for his children to be independent and self-sufficient.
Durov explained that he has written his will now because his work involves risks, including defending freedoms that earn him many enemies. “My work involves risks – defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states,” he said. “I want to protect my children, but also the company I created, Telegram. I want Telegram to forever remain faithful to the values I defend.”
Durov also addressed the recent controversy surrounding Telegram, including his arrest in Paris on charges related to the platform’s alleged complicity in aiding money launderers, drug traffickers, and people spreading child pornography.
Durov denied these charges, describing them as “absurd.” “Just because criminals use our messaging service among many others doesn’t make those who run it criminals,” he said, emphasizing Telegram’s commitment to user privacy and security.