Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has revealed plans to bequeath his estimated $17 billion fortune to his 106 biological children, beginning in the year 2055. In an exclusive interview with the French magazine Le Point, the 40-year-old tech visionary explained that the delayed distribution is intended to promote self-sufficiency and personal development among his children.
“I recently finalized my will,” Durov stated. “I’ve decided my children will not access my wealth for another 30 years. I want them to live normal lives, grow independently, trust themselves, and innovate—not rely on a bank account.”
Durov emphasized that all 106 of his biological children—whether conceived naturally or through sperm donation—will be treated equally in his estate planning. “There’s no distinction,” he said. “Some were conceived naturally, others through sperm donation, but they are all my children and will receive equal rights. I want to avoid any future conflict or division.”
He disclosed that six of the children were conceived naturally with three different partners, while the remaining 100 were born via anonymous sperm donations made over the past 15 years in 12 countries. “It began when I donated to help a friend,” Durov noted. “Recently, the clinic informed me that over 100 children have been conceived as a result.”
According to Bloomberg and Forbes, based on Durov’s current net worth, each child could potentially inherit between $131 million and $161 million.
This revelation comes amid ongoing legal challenges for Durov in France. In August 2024, he was briefly detained at Le Bourget Airport near Paris after arriving via private jet from Azerbaijan. While details surrounding the incident remain unclear, it has reignited media scrutiny surrounding the notoriously private entrepreneur.
Durov, long known for his staunch defense of user privacy and digital independence, has grown Telegram into one of the world’s most widely used messaging platforms. Frequently clashing with governments over issues of data security and censorship, his latest move further underscores his status as one of the tech industry’s most unconventional and enigmatic figures.
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