Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has announced that his entire $17.1 billion fortune will be equally shared among more than 106 children, a mix of his biological offspring and those conceived through anonymous sperm donations in various countries.
In a recent interview with Le Point, the 40-year-old tech billionaire disclosed that while he has six children of his own, he has also anonymously donated sperm in 12 countries, resulting in the birth of over 100 additional children. Remarkably, Durov emphasized that he sees no distinction between them.
“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,” he said. “They are all my children and will all have the same rights!”
However, Durov is placing a significant delay on their access to the inheritance. According to him, none of the beneficiaries will be allowed to touch the estate until June 19, 2055, exactly 30 years from the day of the interview. His intention, he explained, is to give the children time to grow into independent individuals without relying on inherited wealth.
“I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone… not to be dependent on a bank account,” Durov said.
His decision to finalize the division of his assets now, he added, was largely driven by the increasing risks associated with his position at the helm of a platform often criticized for its stance on privacy and content moderation. Durov alluded to recent legal troubles, referencing his arrest in France in August 2024. He was charged in connection with Telegram allegedly hosting illegal content — a charge he continues to strongly deny.
“Nothing has ever been proven showing that I am, even for a second, guilty of anything,” he stated, maintaining his innocence. He remains in France under judicial supervision while legal proceedings continue.
Durov suggested that his situation is the result of taking a principled stand in defense of personal freedoms — a stance, he argues, that does not sit well with certain powerful institutions.
“Defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states,” he said.
Though he remains embroiled in controversy, Durov’s announcement marks a highly personal and unprecedented move in how tech billionaires approach inheritance, legacy, and the intersection of family and public identity.
What You Should Know
- Fortune Distribution: Pavel Durov plans to split his $17.1 billion fortune equally among his six biological children and over 100 others from sperm donations in 12 countries.
- Inheritance Delay: None of his children will access the inheritance until June 19, 2055, to foster self-reliance and independence.
- Legal Context: Durov’s decision is influenced by “risks” from his work, including his August 2024 arrest in France for Telegram’s alleged hosting of illegal content.
- His Stance: Durov denies the charges, claiming no evidence supports them, and frames his legal troubles as backlash for defending free speech.
- Family Philosophy: He views all his children—biological and from donations—as equal, ensuring identical inheritance rights.
- Global Impact: The announcement, made in a Le Point interview on June 19, 2025, highlights Durov’s unconventional approach to wealth and family amid ongoing controversies.
