Pavel Durov, the enigmatic billionaire and creator of Telegram, has again made international news — not because of a new app update, but because of a very private and uncommon revelation. Durov revealed in a recent interview with French publication Le Point that he has fathered more than 100 children and that they will all inherit an equal portion of his enormous fortune when he dies.
This revelation is more than something out of the tabloids — it provokes serious questions about parenting, legacy, and the evolving face of billionaire values.
Who Is Pavel Durov?
Pavel Durov, 40, is also known as “Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg.” He initially became famous by creating VKontakte, Russia’s Facebook equivalent, back in the early 2000s. Following disagreements with the Russian government and state-controlled investors, he fled the nation and created Telegram in 2013 — a popular messaging platform currently used by more than 1 billion users around the globe.
Based in Dubai and known for his minimalist lifestyle, strict personal discipline, and anti-establishment views, Durov has become an icon of digital privacy and decentralization.
The Shocking Revelation: 100+ Heirs
During the Le Point interview, Durov said he has donated his sperm at numerous fertility clinics in 12 countries for the last 15 years. That led to the birth of over 100 children by anonymous donors, as well as the six children he has with three different partners.
“They are all my children, and they all have the same rights,” Durov declared.
He also revealed that he has made a legal will in which all of these children will have an equal share of his wealth upon his death.
Pavel Durov’s Net Worth
Durov’s net worth, according to Bloomberg, is estimated at about $14.8 billion (approx. ₹123,000 crore). This huge wealth is largely attributed to his control of Telegram and early investment in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
Durov’s details of his inheritance plan:
- Equal Shares: All children will get an equal share, irrespective of the fact that they were brought up by Durov or were born anonymously.
- 30-Year Wait Period: Durov has put a condition in his will that none of the children will be given access to their inheritance until 30 years of his death.
- Reason for the Delay: The aim is to encourage independence and avoid any “trust fund baby” attitude.
- Telegram Independence: Part of his fortune is held in a trust so that Telegram will be independent and will never come under the control of corporations or governments.
A Billionaire Adopting Pro-Natalism
- Durov’s ideology follows a growing tide in Silicon Valley called pro-natalism — a trend that urges successful, smart, or high-achieving individuals to produce more kids to “make better” the next generation.
- Whereas Elon Musk and others have been in the news for advocating large families, Durov has carried this to an extreme degree by fathering more than 100 children around the globe — covertly and systematically over the last decade and half.
- He reported that he began donating sperm “to assist a friend” but kept doing it as an act of altruism and means to promote human development.
Legal and Ethical Questions
Though the news has triggered wonder and interest, it also comes with serious legal and ethical issues:
Legal Disputes
- Pavel Durov has ongoing criminal charges in France for using Telegram for illegal purposes, such as drug trade and child sexual abuse images.
- He’s also facing a civil lawsuit in Switzerland, where one of the mothers of some of his children accused him of domestic violence and not paying child support.
- Both cases could affect his public reputation as well as how his inheritance plan is being implemented.
Parental Rights and Identity
- Opponents wonder if Pavel Durov anonymous children will even care about being identified with him.
- Ethical controversy swirls around whether one individual should father so many kids via sperm donation, given the psychic cost and the tangled network of biological siblings stretched around the world.
Public Reactions: Shock, Memes, and Serious Questions
Social media has exploded in reaction since the interview was broadcast:
- “Durov’s Army” memes are popular, showing a platoon of children inheriting encrypted kingdoms.
- Others are calling him a visionary who is intertwining tech futurism with legacy planning over the long term.
- Some are shocked, deeming it abuse of reproductive systems and challenging the morality of fatherhood on the mass scale.
Implications for Telegram and Tech World
The future of Telegram may be shaped by this novel model of succession. By pinning inheritance down for 30 years, Durov is attempting to guarantee stability and prevent corporate meddling once he is gone.
However, managing such a diverse group of heirs — across continents, cultures, and legal systems — could lead to inheritance disputes, trust challenges, and complications in ownership structure.
Conclusion
Pavel Durov has never played by the book — and his legacy playbook is no exception. With more than 100 heirs, a business fortune of billions, and a 30-year wait before any child ever sees a dime, his plan is obvious: create a legacy that encourages independence, not expectation.
Whichever way one chooses to view it as either genius or provocative, this move cemented Pavel Durov not just as a technology pioneer — but also as one of today’s most unorthodox billionaires.