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.
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.
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.
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.
Though the news has triggered wonder and interest, it also comes with serious legal and ethical issues:
Legal Disputes
Parental Rights and Identity
Social media has exploded in reaction since the interview was broadcast:
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.
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.
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