Telegram founder Pavel Durov plans to divide wealth among his 100+ children — what is his net worth
Pavel Durov
, the enigmatic Russian-born entrepreneur behind
Telegram
, has recently made headlines not for his technological innovations but for his extraordinary personal life and estate plans. Known for founding VKontakte (
VK
), Russia's largest social network, and later the encrypted messaging app Telegram, Durov has amassed a staggering fortune estimated between $13.9 billion and $17.1 billion. Beyond his business success, Durov has fathered over 100 children—six naturally and more than 100 through
sperm donation
across multiple countries. In an unprecedented move, he intends to divide his entire wealth equally among all his children, regardless of how they were conceived, with the inheritance locked for 30 years to encourage them to build independent lives. This plan reflects Durov's unique philosophy on legacy, freedom, and family.
Pavel Durov's rise to billionaire status
Born in 1984 in St. Petersburg, Russia, Pavel Durov first made a name for himself by co-founding VKontakte in 2006, often described as the 'Facebook of Russia.' After disputes with new owners and pressure from Russian authorities, he left VK in 2014, refusing to compromise on user privacy. In 2013, he launched Telegram with his brother Nikolai, focusing on secure, encrypted communication. Telegram has since grown to over 1 billion monthly active users and became profitable in 2024, generating over $1 billion in revenue that year. Durov owns 100% of Telegram, making it the primary source of his wealth, which Forbes estimates at $17.1 billion, while Bloomberg places it closer to $13.9 billion.
The unconventional family and inheritance plan
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Durov's personal life is as unconventional as his career. He has six children with three different partners and has fathered over 100 additional children through sperm donations in at least 12 countries. His decision to publicly acknowledge all these children and plan an equal division of his fortune among them is unprecedented. He has stated that he wants no distinctions between his natural and donor-conceived children and that the inheritance will only be accessible to them 30 years from now. This delay is intended to ensure that his children grow up independently, without relying on inherited wealth, fostering self-trust and creativity.
Philosophical and practical motivations
Durov's approach to wealth distribution reflects his broader libertarian ideals and commitment to freedom. He has long championed privacy and free speech, resisting pressures to monetize Telegram through invasive advertising or data exploitation. His will echoes this ethos by promoting equality among his children and encouraging them to 'live like normal people' rather than depend on inherited riches. This stance also aligns with his history of defiance against authoritarian regimes, notably refusing to share user data with Russian authorities, which led to his exile.
Challenges and controversies
Despite his success, Durov's journey has not been without legal and political challenges. In August 2024, he was arrested in France on charges related to Telegram's content moderation policies, sparking debates on free speech and platform responsibility. Additionally, investigations have raised concerns about Telegram's infrastructure potentially being linked to Russian intelligence, although Durov continues to defend the platform's independence and privacy commitments
Pavel Durov's plan to divide his vast fortune among over
100 children
is as bold and unconventional as his career. With a
net worth
estimated between $13.9 billion and $17.1 billion, his decision to treat all his children equally and delay their access to inheritance for decades challenges traditional notions of wealth and legacy. As the founder of one of the world's largest encrypted messaging platforms, Durov's life story blends technological innovation, personal freedom, and a radical vision for family and inheritance that few could have imagined.
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