Latest news with #Durov
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Business
- Time of India
Telegram CEO, Pavel Durov to pass on wealth to over 100 kids he fathered via sperm donation
Credit: X/@PavelDurov In a revelation that has both fascinated and stunned the tech world, Pavel Durov—the elusive founder and CEO of Telegram—has announced plans to leave his entire $13.9 billion fortune to more than 100 children he claims as his own. In an interview with Le Point magazine, the 40-year-old billionaire detailed his unconventional legacy plans, revealing that he is not only the legal father of six children with three women but also the biological father of over 100 more through years of sperm donation. 'I want to specify that I make no difference between my children: there are those who were conceived naturally and those who come from my sperm donations,' Durov told Le Point . 'They are all my children and will all have the same rights.' However, he also made it clear that none of them would access his fortune for the next 30 years. 'I wrote my will very recently. I decided that my children would not have access to my fortune until a period of thirty years has elapsed, starting from today.' This means that his children can only claim their share after June 19, 2055. Credit: X There has long been speculation surrounding Pavel Durov 's romantic relationships, with his name linked to various women over the years, including journalist Daria Bondarenko and Hungarian influencer Diana Bako. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo However, of the six children he legally recognizes, three were born during his relationship with Irina Bolgar. The fact that Pavel Durov fathered 100 children is old news. As per a 2022 report, he had reportedly taken an active role in promoting fertility efforts, offering free IVF treatments to Russian women willing to have his children. According to Business Insider , a spokesperson from the AltraVita IVF Clinic in Moscow confirmed that the fertility initiative is exclusively open to Russian women. The spokesperson added that the treatment, which would normally cost around $5,000, is being fully funded. It appears that Durov is embracing a larger pronatalist philosophy—a movement centered around encouraging higher birth rates to combat global fertility decline. In an old Telegram post, Durov revealed that he had made sperm donations in multiple countries over the years. 'I made sperm donations multiple times, resulting in me fathering over 100 biological kids in a dozen countries,' he wrote. Credit: X Durov added, 'The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I'm proud that I did my part to help alleviate it.' He also explained his broader motivation: 'I also want to help destigmatize the whole notion of sperm donation and incentivize more healthy men to do it, so that families struggling to have kids can enjoy more options.' A tech icon with an eccentric image Pavel Durov's name is synonymous with digital privacy, innovation, and a growing cult of personality. Telegram, the messaging app he launched in 2013, now boasts over a billion active users globally. Yet Durov's influence extends beyond his technological ventures. Known for his spartan lifestyle, he told Le Point that he avoids alcohol, coffee, and tea, and begins each day with 300 push-ups followed by 300 squats.
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Telegram boss Pavel Durov says all his 100-plus kids will get a slice of his $13.9 billion fortune — eventually
Telegram cofounder and CEO Pavel Durov said all of his 100-plus children will get a slice of his billions — eventually. The boss of the messaging platform told French outlet Le Point that he's the "official father" of six children from three partners, and has more than 100 offspring in 12 countries after donating his sperm. "I make no difference between my children. There are those who were conceived naturally and those who come from my sperm donations," Durov said. "They are all my children and will all have the same rights. I don't want them to tear each other apart after my death." The Russian-born entrepreneur has an estimated net worth of almost $14 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. "I wrote my will very recently ... I decided that my children would not have access to my fortune until a period of 30 years has elapsed, starting from today," he told Le Point. "I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account." Durov explained that he wrote a will despite only being 40 because his work involved risks and he had enemies from within "powerful states." He set up Telegram in 2013 after previously founding the Russian social media network VK. Telegram has about one billion active users globally. Durov was arrested last year after French authorities accused him of being complicit in allowing criminal activity to occur on Telegram. He again denied all the criminal charges laid against him. In an interview with Tucker Carlson earlier this month, Durov said he was still unable to travel freely almost a year after being arrested. Asked about the comparisons with Elon Musk, he told Le Point he was very different to the world's richest person: "Elon runs several companies at once, while I only run one. Elon can be very emotional, while I try to think deeply before acting — but that can also be the source of his strength." Fitness fan Like Durov, Musk also has a number of children. In March Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis said she'd had her fourth child with the Tesla CEO. In response to a comment about his youthful appearance, Durov said his exercise routine involved 300 push-ups in a row, followed by 300 squats. "I don't drink alcohol, coffee, or tea, I don't smoke and I stay away from sugar," Durov added.
Extra.ie
3 hours ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
Telegram founder to leave €20b fortune to '106' children
The billionaire founder of messaging app Telegram is set to leave his fortune to his 106 children that he has fathered. Tech tycoon Pavel Durov has allegedly fathered more than 106 children — six that he conceived naturally with three different women — and the further 100 that he's the biological father of after donating sperm en masse to couples across 12 different countries. Mr Durov, who's worth almost €20billion, recently spoke about how he felt there was no difference between the children he conceived naturally and the children who were born as part of his sperm donations — with him saying that he will leave his entire fortune to each child in 30 years. The billionaire founder of messaging app Telegram is set to leave his fortune to his 106 children that he has fathered. Pic:This means that each of his 106 children will receive approximately €188,000,000 each in the next three decades. 'They are all my children and will all have the same rights,' Mr Durov told Le Point magazine in France. 'I don't want them to tear each other apart after my death.' However, Mr Durov's children will live 'normal' lives prior to receiving the huge windfall in the next few decades, with him adding: 'I want them to live like normal people, to build their lives on their own, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create – not to be dependent on a bank account.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pavel Durov (@durov) Mr Durov revealed that he fathered a number of children via sperm donation when a Russian woman who is based in Switzerland said that he was the father of her three children. He would later confirm that he has over 100 children, including those three children, and another three which were conceived naturally, as well as the aforementioned mass sperm donation. Mr Durov has been called the Mark Zuckerberg of Russia, after he founded social media platform VK, the Russian version of Facebook, when he was 21. He was essentially forced to give up the company in 2014 after he wouldn't give up data surrounding Ukrainian protestors, and he moved abroad. He then founded secure messaging app Telegram, which has also seen its share of controversy over the years — including the alleged trading of illegal pornography and drugs. Mr Durov, often called Russia's answer to Mark Zuckerberg, said he would give his estimated €20billion fortune to his army of children. Pic: Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images Mr Durov is currently under judicial supervision in France in connection with his app, after he was placed under investigation for alleged organised crime on the app in France. He is a dual citizen of France and the UAE, and currently resides in Dubai.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Telegram billionaire Pavel Durov to leave $17B to 100+ kids conceived through sperm donation
Move over Elon Musk, there is a new eccentric billionaire in town, and he has brought babies. Pavel Durov, the reclusive Russian tech mogul behind the messaging app Telegram, casually revealed in a recent interview that he has fathered over 100 children. Yes, one-zero-zero. And yes, your group chat app guy just turned into a global superdad. Wait… Telegram's founder is basically a real-life Nick Cannon? The 40-year-old entrepreneur told French magazine Le Point that he has six 'official' children across three partners, but the real twist? The other 90-plus kids came from his anonymous sperm donations. Apparently, this tech titan has been handing out 'high quality donor material' like Silicon Valley hands out funding rounds. Billionaire dad energy: All his kids will inherit the empire Durov, who has an estimated net worth of $17.1 billion (cue gasp), has big plans for his growing offspring army. He reportedly wants all of them, natural-born or donor-conceived, to have equal rights to his empire. But there is a catch straight out of a drama series: they will not see a single dime until 30 years from now. He apparently believes his kids need to 'live like normal people' before unlocking their golden ticket. Basically, no billionaire trust fund babies flexing Rolexes in nappies, not on Durov's watch. From sperm clinic to dad of a hundred This all started when a friend asked Durov for a sperm donation due to fertility issues. He agreed, and the sperm clinic director apparently told him that his genes were too premium not to share. Fast-forward to now: he has helped over 100 couples across 12 countries become parents. And he is only just coming to terms with the magnitude. In a throwback Telegram post, Durov marvelled at how this could even happen for someone who has never been married and likes to fly solo. Well, sir, the math is giving legendary. Telegram founder or tech cult leader? Durov insists he will not play favourites and wants to avoid inheritance drama posthumously. His approach to fatherhood may be chaotic-good, but one thing is clear, the man is building the most elite cousin group chat the world has ever seen.
Hans India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov to Leave $17 Billion Fortune to His 106 Children, Inheritance Set for 2055
In a revelation that has sparked global curiosity, Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has shared plans to bequeath his entire fortune—estimated at more than $17 billion—to his 106 biological children. However, they'll have to wait until the year 2055 to receive a cent. In an exclusive interview with the French publication Le Point, Durov, 40, disclosed that he is the biological father of 106 children, six of whom were conceived naturally with three different partners. The remaining were born via sperm donation in a dozen countries, a process he began 15 years ago. 'I want to specify that I make no difference between my children: There are those who were conceived naturally and those who come from my sperm donations,' Durov told Le Point. 'They are all my children, and will all have the same rights!' Based on his current net worth, each child could inherit between $131 million to $161 million, according to Bloomberg and Forbes. But Durov emphasized that the wealth would only be distributed 30 years from the interview date—on June 19, 2055. The reason? He wants them to develop without relying on inherited money. 'I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account,' Durov explained. This legacy planning reportedly emerged as Durov was preparing his will, driven in part by the legal uncertainties surrounding his work. In August 2024, he was detained by French authorities at Bourget Airport near Paris. He was arriving from Azerbaijan on a private jet and was taken into custody as part of an investigation into Telegram's alleged role in facilitating illegal activities, including child sexual abuse content, drug trade, money laundering, and organized crime. The arrest formed part of a wider inquiry spearheaded by OFMIN, France's agency for combating violence against minors. Authorities extended Durov's detention for up to 96 hours to allow for continued questioning. He must either face formal charges or be released at the end of this period. Despite the severity of the accusations, Durov remains steadfast in his innocence. 'Nothing has ever been proven showing that I am, even for a second, guilty of anything,' he stated. 'Defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states.' Telegram has publicly defended its CEO, calling the allegations absurd. In a statement shared on social media, the company said: 'Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.' The company affirmed its commitment to legal compliance, noting that it follows the European Union's Digital Services Act and maintains industry-standard content moderation. Since its inception in 2013, Telegram has become one of the world's most-used messaging platforms, lauded for its encryption and data privacy. While this has drawn nearly a billion users, it has also placed the company under scrutiny from law enforcement agencies. But Durov remains unapologetic. 'Just because criminals use our messaging service, among many others, doesn't make those who run it criminals,' he said. As for his 106 children, they'll grow up knowing their future is secure—but only after proving their independence first.
