Pavel Durov Discusses Legacy and Family
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, shared his intention to pass on his substantial wealth, estimated at nearly $2 billion, to the 100 children he fathered through sperm donations.
His relationship with the Kremlin has been turbulent, particularly concerning free speech issues. Last year, French authorities charged him after allegations arose about his platform enabling drug trafficking and sexual abuse. Durov has denied these claims.
As reported by Forbes, Durov’s will outlines the distribution of his wealth, totaling $17.1 billion, among his six biological children, three business partners, and the 100 children born from his sperm donations over the past 15 years. This information was revealed by Le Point Magazine.
Durov stated, “I don’t differentiate between my children. Some were conceived naturally, while others are from donations,” emphasizing that all his children are equally entitled to his fortune. “I want them to support each other and not fight over my estate after I’m gone,” he added.
At 40, Durov expressed a desire for his children to not touch his wealth for 30 years. “I want them to experience life as regular people, to trust themselves, and build their own paths,” he shared with the magazine.
However, there are accusations from the mother of his three children claiming he provided inadequate financial support, led a double life, and even assaulted his then-3-year-old son. These allegations stem from two criminal complaints filed in 2023 and 2024.
Durov maintains a unique presence on social media, and in a recent post, even shared a shirtless photo of himself with goats to wish Telegram users a happy Easter.
He once made headlines for mocking Russian President Vladimir Putin in a viral Instagram post and has been known for encouraging users to participate in a playful “shirtless challenge.”
This controversial figure has had a rocky history with Russian authorities, especially when he refused to ban activists from VKontakte, a social platform he founded, which included a group linked to opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Following pressure, Durov left Russia amid a tumultuous environment that included a significant investment in VK by a Kremlin-connected firm that sidelined his allies.
Recently, Doloff mentioned that Durov is back in his Dubai residence after an arrest in Paris last summer, which briefly barred him from leaving the country.
With over a billion active users, Telegram has become crucial for communications, especially during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, serving as a platform for air raid alerts while also facing criticism for hosting extremist content.
