Pavel Durov, the billionaire creator of Telegram, has rewritten his will to divide his £17 billion ($A35 billion) fortune equally among his 106 children.
The 40-year-old Russian tech entrepreneur, who now lives in France, told Le Point magazine that all his children — whether conceived naturally or through sperm donation — will be treated equally. However, he has ruled out immediate access to his wealth, stating that none of his children will inherit any money for the next 30 years.
“I want them to live ordinary lives, to become self-reliant, to learn to create without being dependent on wealth,” Durov said.
Telegram, the encrypted messaging app Durov founded, has over a billion monthly active users worldwide and is known for its strong stance on privacy. Often referred to as Russia’s version of Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk, Durov has amassed significant wealth, which when divided evenly, would amount to £160.3 million ($A330.2 million) for each child.
Facing Personal Risks for Defending User Privacy
Durov explained that concerns for his safety led him to update his will. His refusal to share Telegram user data with security agencies from Russia and Western countries has made him a target.
“My work puts me at risk — defending freedoms attracts enemies, even among powerful governments,” he said.
“I want to protect my children and the company I created, ensuring Telegram remains true to its founding principles.”
106 Children Across 12 Countries
Durov revealed that he is officially the father of six children with three different partners. The remaining children were conceived via sperm donations he made over the past 15 years in 12 different countries.
“The clinic I donated to initially was helping a friend. They later informed me that over 100 children have been conceived from my donations,” Durov shared.
He also mentioned a newborn son he hasn’t yet met, who was born in Dubai and currently lacks a passport.
Under Investigation in France
Durov, who holds French citizenship, is now living in France but faces an ongoing investigation. He was arrested last year after flying into Paris from Azerbaijan with his girlfriend Yulia Vavilova, 24, a gamer and crypto coach.
Authorities have accused Telegram of enabling illegal activity due to its limited moderation and privacy features, which make it difficult for law enforcement to monitor criminal activity on the platform.
Durov dismissed the allegations as baseless:
“Just because criminals use our platform doesn’t mean the company itself is criminal,” he argued, emphasizing that Telegram cannot access or read users’ private messages.
“We’ve never exposed a single private conversation. If requested by the courts, we can only provide limited metadata like IP addresses and phone numbers.”
Telegram remains widely used by both Russian and Ukrainian forces amid the ongoing war.
Forced into Exile After Defying Russian Authorities
In 2014, Durov was forced to give up his company and leave Russia after refusing to hand over data on Ukrainian protesters to Russian authorities. Despite the controversies, his wealth and influence have continued to grow.
His children, even with the 30-year waiting period, are set to inherit vast fortunes — though Durov insists his priority is to ensure they grow up independent and capable.
