Latest news with #VK
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pavel Durov's recently written will: Telegram fortune to be divided amongst 100 kids he fathered
Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of the messaging platform Telegram, has announced plans to leave his estimated £17 billion fortune to the more than 100 children he has fathered. The tech mogul, 40, has six children with three different partners and is believed to have around 100 additional offspring resulting from sperm donations he made to numerous couples across 12 countries. In a recent interview with France's Le Point magazine, Durov revealed that he considers all his children—whether conceived naturally or through sperm donations—equally deserving of his fortune. He explained that he sees no difference between those born of his own relationships and those from his donation efforts. Durov is the founder of Telegram, which has more than one billion monthly active users worldwide. His fortune is estimated at up to £17 billion, cementing his status as a key player in the tech world. Durov has been compared to other tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk due to his influential role in the digital space. Born in Russia, Durov spent part of his childhood in Italy before returning to St Petersburg, where his father worked as a scholar in ancient Roman literature. Durov's entrepreneurial career began with the creation of VK, a social media platform often dubbed the 'Facebook of Russia'. However, after refusing to hand over data on Ukrainian protesters to Russian authorities, he was forced to relinquish control of VK and relocate abroad in 2014. He later founded Telegram as a secure communication platform, inspired by the lack of privacy in Russian social media. Currently based in Dubai, Durov holds dual French and Emirati citizenship. He remains the sole owner of Telegram, despite facing legal challenges in France, including an investigation into criminal activities related to his app.
Russia Today
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Russia Today
St. Petersburg's Hermitage blends art and tech in immersive tour project (VIDEO)
Russia's State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and tech giant VK have launched a new digital project offering visitors guided virtual tours. The project, titled 'One Museum. Three Views', offers three themed digital routes hosted by writer Sergey Minaev, comedian Evgeny Chebatkov, and singer Klava Koka, the Hermitage and VK announced on Tuesday. Each tour caters to a different generation and is accessible via a chatbot on the Hermitage's VK page or by scanning QR codes in the museum's halls. The routes cover 33 locations within the museum, including both well known and lesser seen spaces. Visitors are guided by pre-recorded audio and video content that highlight rare exhibits, historical context, and behind-the-scenes details. The digital experience was developed by Hermitage researchers and the Hermitage-Media department. Minaev's tour features several grand ceremonial halls such as the Field Marshal and St. George Halls. In the latter, he is joined by Hermitage Director Mikhail Piotrovsky, who explains the hall's symbolic dedication to St. George. Minaev also takes viewers to the Hanging Garden and Italian art halls, focusing on the museum's resilience when the city was under siege during World War II. Chebatkov's route offers a humorous take on the museum's artworks. In the Romanov Portrait Gallery and before works like Diego Velázquez's 'The Breakfast', he explores how humor in art changed across Russia's imperial eras, with commentary rooted in historical research. Koka's tour is geared toward younger audiences, exploring hidden architectural features and musical history. She visits areas such as the Leonardo da Vinci Hall and the Skylights and shares preservation insights in collaboration with Hermitage staff. All routes end in the Rastrelli Gallery, a media zone offering interactive activities such as digital painting, style-based self-portraits, and multimedia exploration of artworks. Piotrovsky described the initiative as 'a fascinating pioneering project' that creates 'a space filled with unexpected allusions and experiences with which viewers can interact and debate.' The Hermitage is one of the world's largest museums, housing over 3 million artifacts. VK is Russia's leading tech platform by user numbers, reaching more than 95% of the country's internet users.
Business Insider
12 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
12 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
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Garena Free Fire MAX redeem codes for today, June 18, 2025: Free in-game rewards & gifts
Garena Free Fire MAX redeem codes for June 18, 2025: Garena Free Fire MAX is one of India's most popular mobile battle royale games, especially after the original Garena Free Fire was banned. The game developers release daily redeem codes to keep the excitement alive and reward loyal players . Without spending real money, these special codes let players win free in-game rewards like skins, weapons, outfits, diamonds, and more. To unlock the rewards, players must log in to the rewards redemption website ( using their social media accounts like Google, Facebook, Apple, X (formerly Twitter), or VK. Only players with registered accounts can claim rewards; guest accounts are not allowed. These special codes are a mix of letters and numbers, 12 or 16 characters long, so enter them carefully. The first 500 players to use the codes can get free items, but only for a short time (up to 24 hours). Once you use a code, the rewards will appear in the 'vault' section, and any gold or diamonds will show up in your wallet. Only valid codes will give rewards – expired ones won't work. If a code doesn't work, it might be because of server issues or region restrictions. Below, you'll find today's working codes and how to redeem them. Garena Free Fire Max: Top 100+ unique, funny, stylish nicknames & name IDs in 2025 Today's Garena Free Fire MAX Redeem Codes for June 18, 2025 Here is the list of the active redeem codes report by India TV News for June 18: 100% Free Active Redeem Codes BNML12ZXCVBN GFDS78POIUAS MNBV34ASDFZX POIU90ZXCVNM YUIO56BNMLKJ FFSGT9KNQXT6 FFPURTXQFKX3 FFRSX4CYHXZ8 100% Confirm Free Fire Redeem Codes QWER89ASDFGH FFMTYQPXFGX6 CVBN45QWERTY FFYNCXG2FNT4 XF4S9KCW7KY2 FFDMNQX9KGX2 TREW23ASDFGH LKJH67QWERTB JHGF01LKJHGF Please remember that these codes can run out at any time, as only a limited number of people can use them. So it's best to redeem them as soon as you can. Also, each code can only be used once. How to Redeem Garena Free Fire MAX Codes Redeeming your Garena FF MAX redeem codes is a simple process: Garena Free Fire Max redeem codes guide | Credit: Free Fire Visit Website: Go to . Go to . Sign In: Log in with your credentials from platforms like Facebook, X, Apple ID, Google, VK ID, or Huawei ID. Log in with your credentials from platforms like Facebook, X, Apple ID, Google, VK ID, or Huawei ID. Enter Your Code: Input the redemption code into the designated text box and click 'Confirm' to complete the process. Input the redemption code into the designated text box and click 'Confirm' to complete the process. Collect Your Rewards: Launch Garena FF MAX on your device to collect the free rewards. Important Tips for Redeeming Codes Only the first 500 users to redeem a code can claim the rewards. Codes are time-limited—they expire quickly. Rewards will only be available to players in eligible regions. Expired or already-used codes won't work. If you get an error, it may be due to server issues, region lock, or because the code has expired. Once redeemed, you can find your items in the vault section of your game account. Skins, weapon loot crates, and outfits will appear in your collection. Gold or diamonds will be credited directly to your account wallet. Special Offers and Rewards Garena Free Fire MAX is renowned for its frequent offers and exciting rewards. Players can earn free diamonds, exclusive skins, and other in-game items through various promotions and redeem codes. These rewards not only improve your gaming experience but also provide strategic advantages in the virtual battlefield. Garena Free Fire MAX FAQS: What are Garena Free Fire Max redeem codes? Garena Free Fire Max redeem codes are special codes released by the developers that allow players to claim free in-game rewards. These rewards can include weapons, skins, diamonds (in-game currency), and other items. Where can I find redeem codes? New redeem codes are released daily and can be found on various websites and social media platforms. However, the official source for redeem codes is the Garena Free Fire MAX redemption website: [ available). How do I redeem a code? Visit the Garena Free Fire MAX redemption website ([ Log in to your Free Fire MAX account using your Facebook, VK, Google, or other registered platform. Enter the redemption code in the designated text box. Click "Confirm" to redeem the code. If the code is valid, the rewards will be added to your account and can be collected within the game. Are there any restrictions on using redeem codes? Yes, there are a few restrictions to keep in mind: Redemption limits: Each code can only be redeemed once per account. Expiration: Redeem codes are usually active for a limited time, so it's important to use them as soon as possible. Region restrictions: Some codes may only be valid in certain regions. Why can't I redeem a code? There could be a few reasons why a redeem code isn't working: The code might have already been used by your account. The code may have expired. The code might be for a different region. You may have mistyped the code. Make sure to double-check the code before trying to redeem it again. Are redeem codes safe to use? Only use redeem codes from official sources like the Garena Free Fire MAX website or social media channels. Avoid using codes from untrusted websites, as they could be scams or contain malware. Do new redeem codes come out every day? Yes, typically, new redeem codes are released daily by the developers. You can check the official sources mentioned earlier to find the latest codes. What is a diamond 💎 in Free Fire MAX download? Free Fire Max Diamonds is actually an in-game currency that is used to buy in-game items or cosmetics and to enhance your gameplay. Can FF Max run on 1.5 GB RAM? What is Garena Free Fire, the game that got banned in India? Launched in September 2021, Free Fire Max is hefty in comparison, taking up 1.5GB of storage space and requires a device with at least 4GB of usable RAM. How to hack Free Fire diamonds? Free Fire redeem codes. The most popular way of getting free diamonds and other in-game items in Free Fire and Free Fire Max is using redeem codes. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
